Jonny Bairstow has spoken of his pride at being able to tell his story in the award-winning Autobiography ‘A Clear Blue Sky’, which is in the running for more honours.
The Yorkshire and England star will find out next month if the moving and compelling account of his and his family’s life, in conjunction with co-author Duncan Hamilton, will be named Sports Book of the Year.
Bairstow has been nominated for the prestigious award, and is in the Autobiographies category alongside the likes of Jenson Button, Judy Murray and Adebayo Akinfenwa.
There are nine separate categories, including Football, Cricket, Rugby and Cycling, with the winners presented at a ceremony at Lord’s on June 7. Dame Katherine Grainger is head of the judging panel.
After those winners have been announced, each will then be promoted in a media and retail campaign in the run-up to Father’s Day on June 17, with an online public vote determining the Overall Sports Book of the Year.
A Clear Blue Sky, which details the tragic loss of Jonny’s father David through suicide in 1998, was released in October and was last month named as the Wisden Book of the Year.
“It’s something that I’m very very proud of,” Jonny told yorkshireccc.com.
“When you set out to do something like that and speak about your life, you don’t necessarily think that these things will happen and come your way. I’m immensely proud and humbled by the response it’s got.
“Getting the right balance of things was very testing, and also speaking about different things that people will think they knew about me and my family.
“The skill it took to write it from Duncan’s point of view and the way he put it together was very special indeed.
“The most rewarding part of it came afterwards with the messages received, people saying ‘Thank you, you helped me be able to speak about things and my mental side and the way I’m thinking’. It’s fantastic to hear that my story has given others freedom to speak about their own similar experience. That’s a special thing.
“People have been able to get a sense of empowerment to talk about different things.
“You’ve also got to remember it’s not just me and Dad, there’s a huge family aspect to it. Family is a huge part of the world that I live in and will continue to be. I’m very fortunate that I’ve grown up with Mum, Becky, Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Andrew and a family unit who have been supportive of what I’m doing and where I’m going and have helped me achieve the goals I’ve strived for.”
