'An emotional week for me': Jonny Bairstow on playing 100th Test match

The fifth and final Test between India and England will see both Jonny Bairstow and R Ashwin reach 100 Test match milestones. England’s wicketkeeper-batter Bairstow said reaching the landmark “means hell of a lot” to him.

The 34-year-old will become the 17th Englishman to get a 100th Test cap in Dharamsala with the Test starting on Thursday. He acknowledged it will be an emotional week, who endured a tough childhood and a long career-threatening injury.

“It means hell of a lot. It will be an emotional week for me,” Bairstow said on Tuesday.

Bairstow was just 8 when his father David, a former England wicketkeeper, died by suicide. His mother Janet kept the family together even as she battled and defeated breast cancer twice.

With the series done and dusted in India’s favour, the fifth Test holds little consequence in the result. But with the advent of World Test Championship, every game has a bearing.

The pristine stadium in Dharamsala is expected to offer assistance to the spinners. Speaking about the pitch, Bairstow lauded the groundsmen for doing a brilliant job not long after the venue’s outfield was criticised during the ODI World Cup.

“The ground staff have done a brilliant job with the outfield considering the state it was in during the ODI World Cup.

“It looks like a good pitch and if you are alluding to the fast bowlers getting help from the surface, it will be favourable to both teams,” Bairstow said.

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Incidentally, Bairstow also played his 100th ODI in Dharamsala and asked about the venue, he said, “Cape Town is my favourite but don’t think there is a more picturesque ground in the world than Dharamsala.”

India have already taken an unbeatable 3-1 lead in the five-match series.