Bairstow snaps back at negative English media

2019 Cricket World Cup
Bairstow England PA

Jonny Bairstow fired back at what he perceives to be unnecessarily negative media scrutiny, specifically targeting Michael Vaughan.

England’s methods and mentality have come under fire in the past week following successive defeats to Sri Lanka and Australia – a run of form that leaves England scrambling to secure a semi-final berth.

Noted ex-England greats Graeme Swann, Kevin Pietersen and Michael Vaughan have been vocal in their criticism of England’s hiccups, with Vaughan speaking in the harshest terms.

“It is just showbiz: they are paid to have an opinion, and if they don’t have an opinion they get sacked,” said Bairstow, of Pietersen and Vaughan.

“I was in a radio interview and was surprised with a clip of Vaughan’s comments.

“Bloody hell. That’s pretty rich. But of course people are going to say things, of course they are.

“Because we’ve done so well, any opportunity for someone to see we’ve lost two games, they were always going to jump on it.

“People were waiting for us to fail. They are not willing us on to win, in many ways, they are waiting for you to get that loss, so they can jump on your throat.

Opener Bairstow has seemingly developed a siege mentality, and believes that the media turning on their nations team is a “Typical English thing to do”.

Michael Vaughan PA

The Yorkshireman then went on to draw comparisons with the flak England’s Rugby Union side have received at times, stating: “Look how successful Eddie Jones was, then all of a sudden a training camp is wrong and it’s his fault. The same with Stuart Lancaster.

“At the end of the day there’s 30 blokes sat in the meetings and in the dressing rooms that know what we’ve been working towards for the last three years.

“So it’s not just the players staying true to it, it’s the coaches, the medical staff; it’s a collective, and that’s what we have been.

“Now we just have to be relaxed: the more you tense up, then the more you’re going to go into your shell and therefore not play how you’ve been playing.

“The more true to ourselves we can be, you can almost go the complete opposite to what we’ve done to be really honest with you.

“That’s how you get your 480s. You almost go the complete opposite.”

Unsurprisingly, Michael Vaughan delivered his retort soon after, taking to Instagram to state: “How wrong can @jbairstow21 be?”

“Never has England team had so much support but it’s you and your team that has disappointed Jonny .. WIN 2 games and you are in the semis .. With this negative, pathetic mindset I am concerned though .. it’s not the media’s fault you have lost 3 games .. !!!”

This really is turning into a bit of an omnishambles…

2019 Cricket World Cup England Jonny Bairstow Michael Vaughan

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