Bairstow just glad to get some gametime
England's Jonny Bairstow was just happy to get some time in the middle after he scored 98 for the St Kitts Invitational team, against his own teammates, on Day one of their two-day warm-up match ahead of the first Test against the West Indies on Monday.
Bairstow is the reserve wicketkeeper in the squad and is not expected to play in any of the three Test matches on the Caribbean tour as Jos Buttler is considered the number one gloveman.
The 25 year-old Bairstow was one of four England batsman that played for the local side, the others were Jonathan Trott, Gary Ballance and Joe Root, as the tourists wanted to give their bowlers a workout in the middle.
The home team ended the day on 303 for nine, with Root contributing 87 not out. England will bat on the second day of the match, but Bairstow was just happy to get valuable time of his own with bat in hand.
Bairstow said: "A full 90 overs in the field for our bowlers and to get some overs in their legs with the new ball to experience how we can get the ball swinging conventionally and reversing as well.
"And also to get a good spell in (for) the spinners so I think it was a very solid exercise for us and tomorrow I'm sure will be just as tough a test.
"To be able to go out and play against the quality bowlers we have got is always going to be a challenge and it was certainly that. It was a great day's cricket to be honest."
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