England’s swashbuckling wicket-keeper batter Jonny Bairstow hasn’t been able to dictate the terms in ODI WC 2023. Jonny Bairstow has looked in two minds whether to attack or defend which has been the reason behind his downfall in ODI WC 2023.
ECB & management would be considering bringing back Moeen Ali & the flamboyant all-rounder Ben Stokes into the side as the duo can easily dismantle the opposition on the given day. Ben Stokes is assumed to come back against South Africa which is quite an important clash on Saturday.
Just because we have lost a game to Afghanistan doesn’t make us bad cricketers- Jonny Bairstow
Jonny Bairstow was having an interaction with ESPNcricinfo ahead of the South African clash which is scheduled on Saturday. Jonny Bairstow pointed out that Afghanistan cricketers are no slouches and they have got some of the world’s best cricketers and match winners present in the side.
“There’s a reason why the guys won the T20 World Cup last year; there’s a reason why the guys won the 2019 World Cup, and we’re the defending champions. Just because we’ve lost a game to Afghanistan doesn’t make us bad cricketers or anything like that,” said Jonny Bairstow.
“You look at [Fazalhaq] Farooqi, his record in the IPL; you look at the three spinners that they’ve got and their records. Just because they play for Afghanistan, they’re no slouches. They’ve actually got some of the world’s best in there and they’ve got match-winners,” he added.
Belief and confidence isn’t something that’s been questioned one bit- Jonny Bairstow
Jonny Bairstow said that the side lost to Pakistan, Sri Lanka in 2019 ODI WC and still won the championship against all odds. Jonny Bairstow stated that there is confidence amongst the group and there’s no lack of belief even after losing the match against Afghanistan.
“The group remains calm within it. Belief and confidence isn’t something that’s been questioned one bit. That’s something that you’re able to call upon when you do lose a game. We lost to Sri Lanka in 2019. We lost to Pakistan in 2019. We still went through.” said Jonny Bairstow.
“There were similar things that I’m sure you guys [the press] wrote in 2019 at the home World Cup. But that’s OK. That’s what you’ve got to do. The confidence is there. It’s unwavering. There’s no lack of belief within this group.” he added.