Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.con. Jonny Bairstow takes a catch to dismiss Durham’s David Bedingham as George Hill celebrates from first slip.
Jonny Bairstow says he has found captaining Yorkshire in the Rothesay County Championship this summer “really fulfilling”.
Bairstow spoke on Saturday afternoon, after the county had beaten Durham by an innings at Headingley, bowling them out for 85 in double-quick time.
The White Rose’s wicketkeeper-batter, who celebrated his 36th birthday on Friday, spoke of his pride in his players and praised their efforts in winning four matches and drawing six.
“I’ve really enjoyed it,” he said of the red-ball leadership. “I’ve found it really fulfilling, understanding the different aspects of captaincy and what that entails.
“I’ve learned a hell of a lot as well about myself, but also about the other lads and how to try and get the best out of them.
“It’s something that’s going to be an ongoing process, and hopefully that’s the same next year and they want me to do it when everything gets sorted. And we go from there.”
Bairstow continued: “Look, we’ve worked really hard this year, and I’m proud of how the guys have gone.
“There’s so much talent within that room and it’s just trying to unlock the belief within them that they’re able to go and do special things like that (bowl Durham out for 85).
“George getting 4-14 at the end there, getting 50 wickets in the year, Beany getting a double hundred at Notts, the way Matty Revis got three back-to-back hundreds, James Wharton constantly just getting runs.
“The talent pool that we’ve got – another year on, another year of learning from Division One, because it is different to Division Two. Hopefully these learnings, the lads have been able to take.
“It’s tested a few of them at times, which is great to see, because it’s not an easy game.
“Hopefully, through those learnings, comes improvement and an understanding for the game that hopefully will last them for next year and the year after that.”
Looking back at Saturday’s final day, specifically when Durham slipped from 29-1 to 85 all out under the serious pressure created by Jordan Thompson, George Hill and Dom Bess, Bairstow said: “It was a remarkable hour’s cricket.
“I didn’t envisage that happening to be honest with you, and I don’t think anybody would.
“The lads put the ball in the right place. Tommo started it getting those two poles, and I had the luxury of bringing George back on. He just doesn’t miss.
“He’s had a remarkable year and has been key to us staying up. He’s taken 50 wickets, whereas at the start of the year he probably wasn’t your main seamer.
“He’s come out the other end as the only one who’s got 50 wickets.
“But huge credit to Jack White as well and all the bowlers.
“They’ve all put in and made contributions through the Kookaburra balls and everything we’ve asked of them – when to rest and when not to rest. Sometimes, they’re difficult conversations to have.
“But it all comes back to them being fresh coming into these last three games. And we’ve seen how much it counts.
“Memories like this to finish a season, it’s amazing how that can then kick-start into next year and gives us loads of belief in other disciplines.”
Bairstow was present at Thursday’s player-of-the-year dinner, which saw Matthew Revis win the club’s members’ men’s player-of-the-year award and Ami Campbell win the women’s prize.
All-rounder Revis, aged 23, totalled 766 runs in 11 Championship matches, including three hundreds – all in successive games through the middle of the summer. He may not have been the county’s leading run-scorer but topped the averages with 63.83. He also chipped in with five wickets.
“Rev, at the start of the year, having come off six months with his back injury, it was a torrid time for him,” said the skipper.
“Then, to come back without his bowling being full strength if you wish and doing that side of it.
“But the calmness that he’s approached his batting with, and how he’s gone about it, I think it’s been outstanding.
“If he can keep improving with his bowling and trusting his bowling, there’s definitely a lot of cricket to be played for Matty Rev. He’s only going to get better with the bat and the ball.
“I’m delighted for him to come off the back of what was a tough winter for him and come do it. But there’s been a few of them that have done things like that.
“I mentioned George earlier on, Rev, James Wharton. These guys, they’ve done really well all year.”
Bairstow, meanwhile, will now rest up and then prepare for franchise commitments at the ILT20 and SAT20 events in the UAE and South Africa either side of Christmas.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWPix.com. Captain Jonny Bairstow at the toss with Durham captain Alex Lees on Wednesday. Bairstow has loved his first season as the White Rose red-ball skipper.
