Jonny Bairstow has been in fine form for Yorkshire this summer, rooting his place in the top order during his third full season for the Headingley club.
His first-class performances resulted in an England call up in May, where he faced a different level of opposition in the West Indies.
In the Test series he was guilty of defending the many short balls the West Indies attack threw at him – not that this is too heavy a criticism to make.
The cricket betting commununity believe he did reasonably well for a test debut, especially given the amount of pressure Darren Sammy’s men put him under, but Bairstow is already at a point where he must prove he is good enough attack the ball when required.
His recent t20 appearance for Yorkshire Carnegie will give the 22-year-old something to think about. He entered the field as third man to entertain the Headingley crowd against a Leicestershire Foxes side with Matthew Hoggard in the ranks.
Ex-England fast bowler Hoggard, who continues to record decent figures at Nottingham, showed his experience and understanding of the game against Bairstow. It was the old hat versus the young pretender, and Hoggard pitched short every one of his four balls, forcing Bairstow to nick just a couple of runs and reduce that important t20 run rate.
It was only four deliveries, but Hoggard proved what a tough task Bairstow has if he is to cement a place in a future England fold and shake up the Betfair England cricket odds.
The batsman showed what he can do when the ball is pitched in front of him, smashing a six over Wayne White’s head and knocking away a poor bouncer to the leg side. He looked confident against a lesser player in White, but the short Hoggard test serves as a warning of the bowling class he will once more face if he ever pulls on an England shirt again.