Cricket

Middlesex's valiant response to Yorkshire's mammoth first-innings total of 601 for six declared has set the stage for an intriguing battle in the Vitality County Championship promotion race.Jonny Bairstow, eager to prove his worth after being dropped from England squads, continued his impressive form with a composed 160. However, it was George Hill who stole the show with a career-best 169 not out, sharing a record-breaking 238-run partnership with Bairstow for the sixth wicket.Leg-spinner Luke Hollman emerged as Middlesex's standout bowler, claiming four wickets for 194 runs. However, Yorkshire's dominance was evident as they secured four batting bonus points and limited Middlesex to just one bowling point.In response, Middlesex openers Sam Robson and Mark Stoneman provided a solid start, reaching 61 for one before Stoneman was dismissed for 27. Robson remained unbeaten on 65, guiding his team to 141 for one at the close of play.The match is evenly poised, with Middlesex aiming to salvage a draw and Yorkshire seeking a crucial victory to boost their promotion hopes. The battle between the two teams is expected to intensify as the match progresses, with every point potentially proving decisive in the race for promotion.

Yorkshire's promotion hopes received a significant boost on the opening day of their County Championship clash with Middlesex at Headingley, thanks to a century from Jonny Bairstow.Bairstow, who has struggled for form in recent months, struck an unbeaten 107 off 130 balls, his first first-class century in over two years. The 34-year-old was dropped from all England sides within the last two months, but he responded with a defiant knock that underlined his determination to regain his best form.Bairstow's innings was the cornerstone of Yorkshire's impressive 372 for 5 from 96 overs. He received support from Adam Lyth (61) and George Hill (58 not out), who both contributed half-centuries. Luke Hollman was the pick of the Middlesex bowlers, returning figures of 3 for 99 from 27 overs of legspin.Yorkshire started the game in third place in Division Two, three points behind Middlesex in second. A win in this match would give Middlesex a significant advantage in the race for promotion, but they face an uphill task after Yorkshire's dominant display on day one.Bairstow's innings was particularly impressive given the challenges he has faced in recent times. He was dropped from the England squad for the upcoming ODI and T20I series against Australia, and he has been under pressure to prove his worth. However, he responded with a determined and focused performance that suggests he is not ready to give up on his international ambitions.Yorkshire's other batters also played their part in the team's strong start. Lyth and Fin Bean shared an opening stand of 68, while Hill and Bairstow put on an unbroken 130 for the sixth wicket.Middlesex will need to find a way to break through Yorkshire's batting order on day two if they are to have any chance of winning the match. However, with Bairstow in such impressive form, Yorkshire will be confident of extending their lead and putting themselves in a strong position to secure promotion.

Yorkshire seized control of their Vitality County Championship clash with Sussex after two days at Scarborough, thanks to a combative half-century from England's Jonny Bairstow and a career-best knock from Will Luxton.Bairstow, who had not scored a first-class fifty since last July, came to the crease with Yorkshire 104 for three in reply to Sussex's 189 all out. He shared a 90-run partnership with Luxton, who made 59 in only his fourth appearance.Sussex off-spinner Jack Carson claimed an excellent season's best five for 83 in 20 overs as Yorkshire were bowled out for 326, a lead of 137. Bairstow's innings was a timely reminder of his class, as he hit seven fours and a six in 72 balls. He was dropped twice, on 38 and 51, but made the most of his reprieves.Luxton was equally impressive, showing great composure and patience during his 130-ball innings. He was particularly strong against spin, scoring 27 runs off 50 deliveries in the afternoon session.Sussex's bowlers struggled to make inroads into the Yorkshire batting, with only Jordan Thompson and Jaydev Unadkat taking wickets in the morning session. Thompson finished with three wickets, while Unadkat claimed two.In their second innings, Sussex closed on 26 without loss from 10 overs, trailing by 111 runs. The Hove county will need to bat well on the third day to avoid defeat.

Jonny Bairstow, the explosive English batsman, is set to make his long-awaited return to Yorkshire's County Championship side this week. After a six-week break, the competition resumes with Bairstow eager to prove his worth and regain his place in the England team.Bairstow has only played two first-class matches for Yorkshire since the end of the 2020 season, due to his commitments with England and the Indian Premier League (IPL). He has yet to feature for his home county in any format this season, having taken a break after the T20 World Cup and the Hundred.However, Bairstow will be back in action on Thursday against Sussex at Scarborough. Yorkshire currently sit just outside the promotion places in Division Two, four points behind second-placed Middlesex. They have a chance to close the 27-point gap on leaders Sussex this week.Bairstow's return is a major boost for Yorkshire, who have struggled for consistency in his absence. The 32-year-old is a proven match-winner and his experience will be invaluable in the final five games of the season.Bairstow lost his place in England's Test team after a disappointing tour of India earlier this year. He is unlikely to feature in the upcoming T20I and ODI series against Australia in September. However, he remains determined to regain his place in the national side."All I want to do is play for England," Bairstow said at the start of the Hundred. "I'm not going to give up on that."Yorkshire head coach Ottis Gibson believes Bairstow can rediscover his best form at the county level."Jonny still has ambitions of getting back into the England team," Gibson said. "We can help him get into a position where he puts good performances in, and everybody benefits from that."Yorkshire confirmed on Monday that Bairstow is available to play at Scarborough after recovering from a shoulder niggle. However, his availability for the final four games of the season has not yet been confirmed.

Jonny Bairstow, the England wicketkeeper-batter, has acknowledged the toll that an extended period of international cricket has taken on him. After losing his place in the Test team, Bairstow expressed his desire to continue playing for England but admitted that the demands of playing all three formats and the IPL had necessitated sacrifices.Bairstow emphasized the importance of the break he has taken since returning from the T20 World Cup. "It was a much-needed break," he said. "It was nice to spend time at home, get away from cricket, and catch up with family."Bairstow was the only England player to participate in all four major tournaments this year: the 50-over World Cup, the Test series in India, the IPL, and the T20 World Cup. While he scored a century for Punjab Kings in the IPL, his form in other competitions was inconsistent."I had the best part of seven months away from home since January," Bairstow said. "That's the scheduling of the game. That's being lucky enough to be a part of all three formats, but it also means sacrificing time at home."Bairstow's absence from the Test squad for the West Indies series has raised questions about his future in the team. However, he remains determined to regain his place. "I think you know me well enough to know that all I want to do is play for England," he said.Despite his recent struggles, Bairstow believes he has a point to prove. "I've been around long enough," he said. "It's a case of just playing some cricket, scoring some runs, and winning the game."

Jonny Bairstow's Controversial Dismissal: Joe Root's PerspectiveIn the 2023 Ashes series, Jonny Bairstow's unique dismissal sparked a heated debate about the "Spirit of Cricket." England batter and former skipper Joe Root has now shared his candid take on the incident, highlighting the need for players to be more aware while acknowledging the legality of the dismissal.During the second Test at Lord's, Bairstow was dismissed for 10 runs after stepping outside his crease while assuming the ball was dead. Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey swiftly stumped him, leaving England in a precarious position.The dismissal drew mixed reactions. Some argued that Bairstow should have been warned, while others maintained that it was within the laws of the game. In the ECB's documentary, "The Ashes 2023 Our Take," Root reflects on the incident with honesty."Initially, I was quite angry," Root admitted. "But when you're involved in the game, it's difficult to see the other side. I would like to say I would have dealt with it differently, but I could easily have done the same thing."Root emphasized the importance of player awareness. "Jonny will hate me saying this, but if you stay in your crease, you can't get given out," he said. "It's within the laws of the game. You should be aware as a player."Root also praised the leadership of Ben Stokes, who rallied the team after the controversial dismissal. Stokes' resilience and strategic acumen led England to a 2-2 draw in the series, a remarkable comeback after the setback at Lord's."It deserved more than for us to come out on the wrong end of that result," Root said. "For Ben to show us this is how we play our cricket, regardless of the situation, was a powerful moment for us as a team."While Australia retained the Ashes urn, they failed to win a series in England for the first time since 2001. The incident involving Bairstow's dismissal served as a reminder of the importance of sportsmanship and the need for players to be aware of the rules and their responsibilities on the field.

England's title defense in the T20 World Cup 2024 got off to a flying start as they comprehensively defeated West Indies in the opening match of the Super Eight stage.Batting first, West Indies posted a competitive total of 180/4 in 20 overs, thanks to a solid innings from Brandon King (56) and Rovman Powell (48). However, England's batting lineup proved too strong, chasing down the target with ease in just 17.3 overs.Phil Salt was the star of the show for England, smashing an unbeaten 87 off just 47 balls. His innings was a display of power and precision, featuring seven boundaries and five maximums. One of his sixes, a 100-meter blast off Andre Russell's bowling, became the highlight of the match.Jonny Bairstow provided valuable support to Salt, scoring an unbeaten 48. The duo put on a 122-run partnership for the second wicket, effectively sealing the victory for England.England's victory was a testament to their depth and experience in T20 cricket. They showed no signs of complacency after their dominant performance against Afghanistan in the group stage.West Indies, on the other hand, will be disappointed with their performance. Despite posting a competitive total, they were unable to contain England's aggressive batting. They will need to regroup quickly for their upcoming match against USA.England will now face South Africa in their next Super 8s clash on Friday, while West Indies will take on USA on Saturday.

England's dominance in the Super Eight of the T20 World Cup 2024 was showcased in their emphatic eight-wicket victory over West Indies in St Lucia. Phil Salt's blistering 87 not out and Jonny Bairstow's unbeaten 48 propelled England to a clinical chase of 181.West Indies, batting first, posted a competitive total thanks to Rovman Powell's late surge. Powell's 36 off 18 deliveries, including three sixes off Liam Livingstone, helped the hosts reach 180 for 4. However, England's spin duo of Adil Rashid (1-21) and Moeen Ali (1-28) restricted the West Indies batters throughout the innings.England's chase started cautiously, but Salt and Bairstow's 97-run partnership shifted the momentum. Salt, who was dropped on seven, played a calculated innings, reaching his half-century off 38 deliveries. Bairstow, batting at a strike rate of over 200, provided the impetus in the middle overs.Salt's brutal assault on Romario Shepherd in the 16th over, which yielded 30 runs, sealed the victory for England. The right-hander struck three fours and three sixes in the over, the joint-most expensive by a West Indian in a T20 World Cup.West Indies' fielding woes continued to haunt them, as they missed a half-chance to dismiss Salt early in the innings. The dropped catch proved costly as Salt went on to anchor England's chase.England's victory sends a strong message to the other teams in the Super Eight. Their clinical performance, coupled with their depth in batting and bowling, makes them a formidable contender for the title.

Jonny Bairstow's controversial stumping at Lord's last summer has been revisited in the latest series of Australia's documentary "The Test." The incident, which occurred during England's final-day run-chase, sparked fury among MCC members and set the tone for a thrilling Ashes series.Bairstow, however, insists that the incident had a galvanizing effect on England. "I think that post that event, the way in which we as a side reacted to that was a real positive," he said. "You look at the results after that thing that happened at Lord's and I actually think that we finished that series a lot stronger than Australia did."Mitchell Marsh, Australia's T20 captain, acknowledged that the atmosphere at England's grounds that summer was febrile. "I dare say this will be full and it'll be mostly English fans, so it'll be like playing at Headingley all over," he said.The stakes for England in particular have been ramped up this week, following their wash-out against Scotland. However, Bairstow is not getting the permutations in Group B get the better of him. "It doesn't derail us either way. We know we've got to win more games than we lose in tournament cricket," he said.England versus Australia is always a great occasion. Two very good teams going toe-to-toe. It's going to be an exciting spectacle. "Hopefully it will be a fantastic atmosphere like it always is in Barbados and the best side will come out on top."