Bairstow is revelling in his return. Root said before the game he had not seen him in a better place mentally. He is content with his game realising the changes to his technique, moving further over to the off side, are working and went on to make his first half century for two years.
He combined with Root to put on 121 for the fourth wicket, their sixth century stand together, and drove well hitting seven fours in his 57. With the second new ball due, Bairstow’s concentration snapped and he was caught gloving a short ball from Mohammed Siraj bowling round the wicket, as India tried allsorts on a lose surface to break through.
But Root was unflustered. He batted at an even tempo throughout the day, scoring off the back foot square of the wicket or through the third man area.
He reached his hundred from 200 balls with nine fours, his second fifty taking 82 balls as he accumulated patiently. He scored only 24 runs in boundaries between 50 and 150, content to pick off singles and bat time.
Root’s conversion rate has dogged him for years but he has now turned five of his…
