Jonny Bairstow ready for England to chase any India total in fifth Test

“Whatever we’re set, we’ll try and chase,” Jonny Bairstow shrugged, as England stared down the barrel of a daunting fourth-innings target in the fifth Test.

India are already 257 runs ahead with just three wickets down, but England’s centurion was supremely relaxed about the prospect, declaring: “Playing in the manner we are, you’re going to lose games of cricket.”

Certainly Bairstow could be forgiven a little sanguinity given England’s recent form, and his own. Had it not been for his brilliant 106 – his third century in as many Tests – England’s chances would already have been reduced to nothing. And it was a reflective as well as a relaxed Bairstow who emerged to face the media at stumps on day three, a man who has endured a good deal of strife during his decade in an England shirt, and who is now determined simply to enjoy his cricket.

“There’s no point going over old ground,” he said when asked about some of the harder times: the defeats, the dismissals, the ceaseless shifts up and down the order.

“It’s been an eventful journey, an enjoyable journey, with heartbreak at times. But it’s all character-building. Over the last couple of years everyone’s been through it. Covid isolation, bubbles, being away from family. But hopefully we’re through the worst part, putting smiles back on faces and bums on seats.”

Naturally – this was a Bairstow press conference, after all – there was a good-natured barb or two at the assembled media as well. “Got no idea,” he replied when asked about whether technical improvements had driven his extraordinary run of form.

“I’ve never been a great technician. That’s why you lot have torn me to shreds. Leg-side of the ball, off-side of it, bowled through the gate. I’ve just stripped it back