Jonny Bairstow revealed his pride after presenting team-mate George Hill with his Yorkshire cap this morning.
Bairstow, 35 today, was the one handing out a gift rather than receiving it, the England star making an emotional speech about the 23-year-old all-rounder in front of team-mates, coaches, Hill’s family and friends and some Yorkshire office staff.
Bairstow was clearly moved by the moment and afterwards spoke to the local media about former England Under 19 Hill and his own return to Yorkshire colours having returned to Headingley from England commitments.
From left George Hill with his Yorkshire cap this morning after being presented with it by teammate Jonny Bairstow. Photo: John Heald
This week’s clash with Northamptonshire at Headingley – the first day of which was washed out without a ball bowled – will be Bairstow’s fifth in succession in the Vitality County Championship.
“It’s very much a privilege,” said Bairstow of the honour of being asked to present the cap, something he has done previously on a couple of occasions in an England shirt.
“George is cap number 192, and it’s very well deserved. He’s worked really, really hard. Bowling, batting, catching at slip in all formats of the game.
Picture by John Heald. George Hill and family at Headingley this morning. From left to right: Grandma Betty, godmother Julie, aunty Amanda, mother Gayle, father Kevin, brother Freddie and Julie’s partner Julian.
“Look, I think he’s going to go from strength to strength with that.
“The hard work that goes with that to first of all become a Yorkshire player through the Academy – we know the volume of players we have in the county, which is amazing. But then to kick on and become a first-team player and earn the right to get your first-team cap is something as a young kid you dream of.
“I firmly believe he will kick on from here. It will give him that extra bit of confidence he needs. But we all know with the skillset that he’s got, he’s going to be a very good Yorkshire cricketer for a very long time.”
“It’s an elite group,” continued Bairstow, of the select band of Yorkshire’s capped players.
“The club is so rich with its history and heritage, but it’s taken a bit of a kicking over the last few years.
“The strength in which the lads have shown to come through that and put us in a position ahead of this game where we’ll hopefully go back up to Division One, that takes a lot of resilience from the boys and someone like George.”
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. George Hill and Jonny Bairstow during their double century partnership against Middlesex at Headingley earlier this month.
When asked what the moment meant to him, birthday boy Bairstow said: “I just know how much it means to play for the club.
“The family history and heritage that I’ve got, so naturally that comes out. Mum worked here for however many years, Dad played here for 20, and I’ve been here since I was 11.
“It’s a huge thing to have the honour to present a first-team cap to George, who stands at first slip next to me and we get on. We’ve been doing some work on a few bits as well.
“You can see when he’s bowling eight, nine-over spells, coming into the wind, when a couple of the lads are a bit sore, or when he’s coming in at six or seven, and he’s scoring 160 and guiding us into a position of strength with the bat and the ball.
“Look, it’s a serious job and role that he does within the group, and it’s not an easy role either.”
Bairstow would not be surprised one bit to see Hill progress through to England honours.
Picture by John Heald. George Hill with the match ball after taking six wickets in the second innings of the win at Leicestershire recently.
“I don’t see any reason why not,” said the England legend. “He bats, bowls and fields. I think that everyone who gets the Yorkshire cap has the credentials to go on and play for England, and it’s just a matter of progression.
“It’s a case of scoring the amount of runs which can’t be ignored and learning and adapting your game, especially if we do go up because it’s different cricket, and understanding that it’s not going to be an easy ride all the way.
“That’s part and parcel of growing as a human. He’s 23-years-old.
“You look back to myself, Rooty, Gaz Ballance, Lythy, when you’re 23 there are challenges along the way.
“It’s how you adapt to those and overcome them. But from a skillset point of view, he’s got the credentials to go further.”
Bairstow has posted notable scores of 57 and 160 in his four Championship appearances so far, with power to add over the next three days. He has also kept exceptionally well.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Jonny Bairstow has loved his time with Yorkshire towards the back end of this summer.
“My challenge to the lads at Scarborough was to try and get four hundreds in the last four games, and from six and below to get four or five fifties. I don’t think we’re far off doing that,” he said.
“Hopefully we’re able to keep progressing this group together, because it’s a young group that’s got a lot of potential and growth and characters within it that are sturdy characters, stubborn and a bit gritty at times – those willing to get dirty when the chips are down. They’re all characteristics you need.
“Don’t forget, these are the guys who rode the storm for two-and-a-half years, and that leads into the characters coming through into the first team.
“I’ve loved playing these last few weeks – you can see that with me being out with the lads.
“At the start, I was only down to play a couple of games and have ended up playing the last five. That’s great.
“I’ve loved taking to the field with the boys and being out there.
Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com. Jonny Bairstow is 35 today. Here he was batting at Scarborough against Sussex on his return to county action.
“But it’s more than that. You want to be part of the group that gets the club back to where I feel it belongs. That is in Division One.
“It’s been real good fun. I look forward to a good winter, and we crack on after a good four days here.”
On his form, he said: “I’ve been happy. I got asked to show some form, and I’ve been pleased with the way I’ve kept as well. We just keep doing what we need to do and keep your head down.
“I’ll do what I can with this group, and the first thing is to get promotion.”
Bairstow has not played for England since the T20 World Cup in mid-summer but has made no secret of his desire to return to that level in the near future.
He confirmed the nasty ankle injury suffered in late summer 2022 no longer affects him.
Picture by Gareth Copley/Getty Images. Jonny Bairstow is hoping for a return to England colours.
“It’s always going to be there, but I’m moving as well as I’ve ever moved,” he said. “Post my injury, the numbers on my sprint tests are getting back to where I was. There’s no limp there or any pains from my ankle.
“That’s a real positive sign.”
And he also revealed that he plans to play some T20 cricket this winter, adding: “There’s a couple of opportunities that have arisen, so I will be looking to hopefully take those on because I want to be playing cricket through the winter.
“If I do get the (England) call-up, I don’t want to be going on cold. I will hopefully be playing some cricket, but spending some time with my family and at home.”
