Jonny Bairstow has reflected on the Yorkshire men’s pre-season tour, which concluded at the weekend and said: “As a group, we’re building nicely towards what will hopefully be an exciting summer.”
Bairstow joined Yorkshire’s squad in Abu Dhabi for the second week of two following a busy winter including T20 franchise commitments in South Africa through January and February
The England legend played in the two-day game against Somerset on Friday and Saturday. He posted 37 with the bat on day one and kept wicket for a session on day two as the Taunton county responded to 311-9 with 338-10.
Bairstow will be available to start the season with Yorkshire, which begins with a Rothesay County Championship clash at Hampshire on Friday April 4.
“I think it’s been a really good exercise,” he said. “Like I mentioned before the two-day game, getting the lads outside and getting overs underneath the bowlers. Some guys may have been coming back from injury.
“It was great to see Rev, after a stress fracture, just fielding and being out with the boys. It was also great to keep to Whitey for the first time outdoors.
“Everyone’s had a really good run out.”
On his own performance, he continued: “I was pleased, personally.
“You just want to spend a bit of time in the middle. That’s the first thing.
“Secondly, it’s about just getting back out there and being used to the red ball, facing guys that you’re going to be facing in the season and trying to suss out a few different angles.”
On Saturday afternoon, head coach Anthony McGrath spoke about his confidence regarding Yorkshire’s chances of success this summer, and Bairstow has echoed those comments.
“The group’s in a great space,” he added. “We’ve got some awesome lads, and it’s a pleasure to be around them. The backroom staff as well that have come in, while they’re still getting to know the boys, we’ve known a lot of them for a long time.
“First and foremost, you want to be competing in every game and trying to win every game you can.
“I believe we’ve got the group to compete in the right way and in the right half of the table.
“We’ll have to wait and see whether that comes to fruition. But one thing is for sure, we’ll be putting our best foot forward, and it won’t be from a lack of effort, commitment and dedication from the boys.”
