South Africa vs England: Jonny Bairstow plans to keep a firm grip on Test gloves

Only two innings higfher than Bairstow's recent 150 out, both by Alec Stewart, have been played by an England wicketkeeper.

England batsman and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow (Getty Images)

Most of the cameras, the notebooks and the microphones went one way. It is what tends to happen when someone makes 258 from 196 balls. Where else would you go?

There was a chap at the other end for much of Ben Stokes’ swashbuckling endeavours in Cape Town last week. Jonny Bairstow made 150 not out, he was part of the world record partnership of 399. It is at least arguable that Stokes could not have performed his great deeds without Bairstow at the other end.

In any other circumstances, Bairstow’s contribution would have grabbed the headlines, rather than, as in many reports, being the bit at the end. Yesterday, at the Wanderers, 1,000 miles from where it all happened in Cape Town, Bairstow had an opportunity to reflect.

Buthelezi knows patience is key to set a Test wicket

It is an important occasion on Thursday for Bethuel Buthelezi. He joined the groundstaff at the Wanderers in 1984, shortly before his 20th birthday, and this year’s Test match is his first as head groundsman.

Buthelezi was hugely confident yesterday that his pitch would have carry and bounce, offer something for batsmen and bowlers, and though he estimated it would reach the fifth day, indicated 350 would be a good innings score.

His predecessor Chris Scott’s first Test as an assistant groundsman was in 1970. The country’s sporting isolation followed and Scott did not prepare another Test pitch for nearly 23 years.

Only two higher innings, both by Alec Stewart, have been played by an England wicketkeeper. It was Bairstow’s maiden Test hundred at the 37th time of asking (though only his ninth innings as the nominated wicketkeeper). It took Alan Knott, the prince of all England wicketkeeper-batsmen, 36 innings to make his maiden Test hundred.

“It was obviously huge,” Bairstow said of his perambulation to the middle after the Cape Town match was concluded to secure a couple of stumps. “I got one for myself and one for Stokesy. That was an unbelievable knock from him and a pleasure to be at the other end and be a little part of that partnership.

Record wait had England stumped

Jonny Bairstow was widely and harshly criticised for missing a stumping in the first Test in Durban. But he also executed one, which happened to be the first for England since 2012 in India, 38 Tests previously. It is the longest gap between stumpings, beating the 33 matches between 1981-82 (Delhi) and 1984-85 (Mumbai).

“It was amazing, my family were there, it was a big week for them. And to miss out a couple of years ago at Lord’s was a bit of a pain in the backside, if I’m honest. It was one of those things, but you live and learn. So to contribute not only in Cape Town but also in the game before was really pleasing. So, yes, quite an emotional week.”

Bairstow might not be quite aware how much most onlookers were willing him to his hundred at Newlands. Partly, this was because of his father, David, the 18th anniversary of whose death was marked during the match, and partly because they see in Jonny B a feisty character, talented, robust but occasionally brittle in the face of criticism. He had been searching for this hundred since falling five runs short at Lord’s, also against South Africa, four summers ago.

Rare crowd set for the Wanderers

There has been some breast-beating about ticket sales for the Wanderers Test. They are up to 70,000 and are aiming for 90,000. Since the ground holds 28,000, capacity over five days would be 140,000. It is not yet cause for celebration though – attendances for domestic first-class matches at the stadium rarely reach 50.

But then there is his wicketkeeping, for which he is now primarily in the team and which was described by England’s coach, Trevor Bayliss, as a work in progress. Although Bairstow’s general glovework has been largely competent in this series so far, he has missed three chances in the two Tests. At Newlands, they formed part of a litany of opportunities spurned by England and the thought occurred that a fielding side still takes its lead from the man behind the stumps.

Missing Steyn casts a big shadow

In confirming Dale Steyn’s continuing absence at the Wanderers, Russell Domingo, South Africa’s coach, categorically rejected suggestions that the end of his career is near. “All players are going to experience some type of niggles at some stage,” Domingo said. “He’s just had a few of late.” But he knows it is a huge worry.

“It comes with the territory,” said Bairstow. “As a keeper coming through the ranks, your job description is to be the leader of the fielding outfit. On the whole, perhaps we didn’t do as well as we could have done last week, but throughout the 200 and however many overs we were out there the enjoyment we had and the energy we had, even when we went through periods when we didn’t get a wicket, was second to none.

“I like to think I’m a wicketkeeper-batsman from now on. I’ve invested a lot of time and energy and a lot of pain in my keeping as well as my batting. I don’t see any reason why I can’t go forward for a long career keeping wicket for England but also contributing with my batting, too.”

Pertinently, Bayliss has said that both Bairstow and the reserve, Jos Buttler, could be, on form, in the side as specialist batsmen. Looking at the composition of the side and a potential for top-order frailty which was again evident in Cape Town, that remains in the distinctly possible column.

England will field an unchanged team in the third Test, which starts here on Thursday, as long as Nick Compton recovers from the stomach bug which prevented him training yesterday. England made light of it but there has been a plethora of gastro-enteritis in the team and the circus around it, which not all have shaken off within a week. If Compton were not to be fit, England may need a small reshuffle of their batting, with Gary Ballance coming in at five and James Taylor, who had a moderate second Test, invited to move to three.

The balance is slightly towards the tourists again in the wake of Dale Steyn being ruled out for South Africa. The extent of the damage to his right shoulder is still unknown and he was seeking more specialist advice in Cape Town yesterday.

The lack of experience in their bowling, particularly with Morne Morkel looking a touch weary, will be a difficult factor to counteract. It would be no surprise if they opted for a horses-for-courses approach and left out their specialist spinner, Dane Piedt, the leading wicket-taker in the series.