Bairstow's record year silences doubters

Oct 26, 2016 - 5:28 PM England's Jonny Bairstow has taken satisfaction from silencing his doubters after setting a new record for the most Test runs amassed in a calendar year by a wicketkeeper.

Bairstow set a new benchmark after overhauling the 1045 runs accrued by Zimbabwe's Andy Flower in 2000 over the weekend as England defeated Bangladesh in the first Test in Chittagong.

The 27-year-old has the opportunity to set a total that could prove insurmountable as England still have six Tests - one more against Bangladesh followed by a five-match series in India - to play before the end of the year.

It is quite a turnaround for Bairstow, who worried he had been written off as an international cricketer after being discarded by England for more than a year and a half following the Ashes whitewash in Australia in early 2014.

Despite answering his critics in some style, Bairstow is not taking his place in the England line-up for granted.

"It's a special feeling. I'm absolutely delighted to now hold the record," he said.

"You go back maybe two years and there are people writing you off to never play Test cricket again.

"To then come back and prove a few people wrong with the way that I've been playing...there were a few mumbles floating around that I wasn't good enough.

"But at the same time, there's still a lot of cricket to play this year and hopefully I can carry on in the same vein with the bat and the gloves."

Bairstow earned his place back in the England line-up last year, first as a batsman before adding wicketkeeper duties, following a breathtaking 2015 season for Yorkshire.

However, his time out away from the international set-up gave him an appreciation for what he was missing.

England have spoken about possibly resting key personnel during a gruelling tour of the subcontinent, with seven Tests in the space of nine weeks, but Bairstow is eager to be an ever-present.

"Having missed out for 18 months after the Ashes and going away and working on my game and playing for Yorkshire and earning your place back, you want to play as many games as you can for England in every single format going," he said.

Source: AAP