Jonny Bairstow lauded the groundsmen for a job well done ahead of the fifth and last Test of the series between England and India, which will be played at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala from Thursday.
The English wicketkeeper-batter said the pitch, which recently hosted a Ranji Trophy match, as well as the outfield looks good.
“It’s a used pitch from the Ranji Trophy last month… let’s see. Ground staff have done an amazing job with the pitch considering the weather we have had here,” Jonny Bairstow said at the press conference ahead of the match.
“They have done a great job with the outfield here in Dharamsala. Looks good. The ground is one of the most picturesque venues in the world,” he added.
The 34-year-old will become the 17th Englishman to win 100th Test cap and Bairstow joked that there might be a “surprise barbecue from the team” but accepted that he would be emotional.
“Playing 100 Tests means a hell of a lot,” he said.
When asked about his poor run with the bat on the tour so far, he said: “I have been feeling good but runs haven’t come. I have been in the zone every game in the series so far.”
Bairstow has endured a lean run on the tour of India so far, making only 170 runs in the first four matches at an average of just over 21.
India have an unassailable 3-1 lead by winning the fourth test by five wickets. England had won the first test in Hyderabad by 28 runs. India responded by winning the second test in Visakhapatnam by 106 runs, and then the third test in Rajkot by 434 runs.
The win in the fourth Test, by five wickets, was India’s 17th consecutive Test series win at home, where they have not lost a test series since an Alastair Cook-led England bested them in 2012. For England, who won the opening test in Hyderabad and have been competitive as well as entertaining in Visakhapatnam and Ranchi — it was their first series defeat under captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon ‘Baz’ McCullum.
Despite the series being decided, India and England still have 12 World Test Championship (WTC) points to play for in Dharamsala, which gets underway on March 7.
(With inputs from Agencies)
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