‘Kohli Said Something, it Brought the Best Out of Him’: Root Backs Bairstow to Go All Guns Blazing vs AUS – News18

After witnessing the Australian supremacy on English soil and a controversial dismissal that isn’t stopping anytime sooner, the Ashes 2023 heads toward the third Test, starting Thursday at Headingley. Enough has been spoken about the ‘Spirit of the Game’ even since Alex Carey’s presence of mind resulted in Jonny Bairstow’s bizarre run-out. People in the other world continue to talk about it that Bairstow himself would be eager to move on and vent his anger out when he walks out to bat in Leeds.

Ahead of the next face-off, former captain Joe Root addressed a press conference and stated that the Lord’s incident has left Bairstow frustrated and he wants to right all wrongs at Headingley.

“You can bet your bottom dollar he will have the bit between his teeth. I don’t think he took it great. I don’t think anyone would, would they? He does thrive off things like this. You will be able to spot his mood a mile off,” said Root.

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Root further explained how Bairstow has dealt with different situations during his career and going into the Headingly Test, the controversial dismissal at Lord’s might help him bring out the best of himself. The former England captain recalled the game against India at Edgbaston last year when the wicketkeeper batter smashed a match-winning hundred after getting continuously sledged by Virat Kohli.

“Go back to Edgbaston last year. Someone said something to him – I think it was Virat Kohli – and it brought the best out of him. Let’s hope that happens again,” Root said.

Bairstow was on 13 off 60 balls but he shifted gears after the verbal interaction with Kohli and notched the triple figures in the next 59 balls.

“There is always something like this in these big series and this one would have to involve Jonny,” Root added.

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“Jonny was not trying to gain an advantage. It wasn’t like he was at the non-striker’s end trying to sneak a run or batting out of his crease to take modes of dismissal out of the game. So yes he felt hard done by. And I don’t think anyone will be leaving their crease here.

“So, we have to use all the fuel but do it in a controlled manner. That doesn’t mean not to show any emotion because that might be how to get someone like Jonny going. Everyone will deal with this in different ways. But we mustn’t get too carried away with it all,” he added.