Jonny Bairstow and England return to Gabba in lighter mood for second ODI

Jonny Bairstow returned to familiar surroundings in Brisbane on Wednesday. It was in the Gabba’s press conference hall, moments after England had lost the first Ashes Test, that Bairstow read a statement regarding the alleged headbutt on Cameron Bancroft which turned out to be anything but.

“Last time I was in this room, it was a lot busier,” he said, jokingly, as he sat down to a less intimidating atmosphere. “It is what it is. Everyone knows how much that was blown out of proportion.” Even, he says, Australia. “We had a beer with their lads and they said it was the perfect opportunity to blow something up, which is exactly what happened.”

England’s last one-day international against Australia at the Gabba was in 2014 when the all-rounder James Faulkner sealed a dramatic last-wicket win for the hosts. Chasing a target of 301 and needing 25 from the last 10 deliveries, Faulkner took apart Ben Stokes and Tim Bresnan to get over the line with three balls to spare.

But, as the tourists showed in the first ODI with a five-wicket victory, they no longer approach this format with trepidation. Nor will they fear Australia’s pace attack on Friday. That difference, in part, has come through the change from red to white ball. “It probably is a bit [different]. You are probably looking to take it on a bit more and to have a bit of a different mindset.”

Bairstow has batted up top for the ODI side since he replaced Jason Roy for the Champions Trophy semi-final against Pakistan. While primarily a middle-order batsman, he started solidly with a score of 43 on a tricky Cardiff pitch. It is a role he has grown into, with both of his ODI centuries he scored as an opener. He admits there is an element of learning on the job but is happy with his output so far.

“It is going to take a bit of time to completely know it and understand it,” he said. “I have been really pleased with how I have started in the role. Obviously to score two hundreds in the West Indies series only two games ago was something I really wanted to set my stall out with. It is a new skill I am learning and hopefully one I will be learning for a while.”

With Alex Hales returning in the first ODI, Bairstow’s presence meant the Nottinghamshire opener, whose individual ODI record score for an Englishman of 171 was pipped by Roy’s 180, batted at No 3. Ben Stokes’s return, whenever that may be, will present the selectors with a decision as to which of the three to drop.

Bairstowis holding firm. “I have worked my arse off to get to where I am, to fight for a position in the side. I would like to hope I have come in and done well enough to keep my spot.”

David Warner took umbrage with the suggestion that over-the-top Ashes celebrations played a part in Australia’s opening defeat in the ODI series. Some domestic media have passed comment on the manner in which the Test players have marked their 4-0 series win, which saw them reclaim the urn.

“You’ve got to celebrate your wins,” Warner said. “It was a long summer for us and to play the way we did, we deserve to go out and celebrate.”

His sentiments were echoed by Bairstow: “You can’t just say because they have lost the first game that it’s a result of celebrating the Ashes. It’s a different squad, lots of different people and if you can’t celebrate winning the Ashes I am not sure what you can celebrate other than your wedding or something like that.

“I am sure if it was the other way round it would have been exactly the same … before midnight, of course.”

Australia will make changes after a virus ruled out Josh Hazlewood while the wicketkeeper Tim Paine is also unwell. Pat Cummins will be rested.