Jonny Bairstow annoyed by ‘out-of-order’ comments after brilliant Ashes display

Jonny Bairstow insisted some of the criticism levelled at him has been ‘out of order’. The England wicketkeeper, who starred on day three of the Fourth Test, believes they have done everything they can to keep the Ashes alive but admitted they need a window in the weather to complete the job.

England are chasing six more Australian wickets with a lead of 162 as they seek to take the series into a winner-takes-all shootout at The Oval. But with bad weather forecast for Old Trafford over the weekend Bairstow admitted they need a break in the clouds to level the series.

Bairstow thrilled the crowd with an unbeaten 99 in 81 balls as England extended their first-innings lead to 275. And he used the platform of his near miss to hit out at critics of his wicketkeeping, insisting he has performed wonders to be even playing international cricket so soon after his freak leg break.

“I’m just delighted to be out there and proud to be taking the field after 10 months out and three years away from wicketkeeping,” he said. “To be back playing international sport after nine months is something I’ve really proud of.

“There has been some chitter-chatter and some of the criticism has been a little out of order. You have to have a bit of perspective. I’ve not played in 10 months and not kept properly in three years so the two combined there are going to be challenges.”

Turning his attention to the state of the game, Bairstow said: “We’ve put ourselves into a position taking four wickets here that hopefully, well, we’ve done everything that we could’ve done in the game,” he said.

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“The weather is the weather. What comes will come and we can control what we have done so far in the game which is score at a rate that puts us in a position that hopefully forces a result.”

Australian fast bowler Josh Hazlewood admitted their dressing room was bruised at the end of a difficult day with both bat and ball.

“We’ve probably not been on the receiving end like that before in terms of run rate. Bairstow played some incredible shots at the end so credit to him.”

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