Bairstow Hobbles To A Hot Hundred!

Jonny Bairstow took over top spot in the chase for this year’s Walter Lawrence Trophy with a 48-ball century for Yorkshire in the Vitality Blast Northern Group match against Worcestershire on June 16. After collapsing in agony with an ankle injury when he’d scored 56, the 31-year-old England batsman/wicket-keeper managed to resume his innings with the aid of a runner and complete his hundred. His century included 8 sixes and 7 fours before his knock ended on 112.

Ironically, Bairstow’s innings at New Road got off to a slow start – making just 5 off his first 10 balls – at which stage he changed bats and his run-rate took off. After helping Yorkshire to a total of 216 for 6, that Worcestershire fell short of by 94 runs, Bairstow was unable to keep wicket and left the ground limping, wearing a moonboot and fearing what the results of a scan might reveal.

Born in Bradford, the son of former England and Yorkshire wicket-keeper, David, Bairstow has been a mainstay in recent years for England, wearing his country’s colours in 74 Tests, 86 One-Day Internationals and 51 T20s. An aggressive opener, he was a highly valuable member of England’s victorious World Cup team in 2019, ending the competition as the second highest run- scorer for England and the 6th highest run-scorer overall. He was named in the team of the tournament by the ICC, having scored 536 runs in 11 matches, with an average of 48.36.

Having represented Yorkshire at Under-15 level, Bairstow was named Young Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year in 2007, having already played for Yorkshire’s Second XI and their Academy side, and represented England Under-17s. He made his first-class debut against Somerset in June 2009, and was picked for the England Lions successful tour of the Caribbean in January 2011. His Test debut followed in 2012.

Worcestershire v Yorkshire scorecard
Jonny Bairstow’s career statistics


Amy Sparkles

Amy Jones has laid down a mighty impressive marker in the hunt for this year’s Walter Lawrence Women’s Award with an unbeaten innings of 163, scored for Central Sparks against Western Storm, in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy match at Birmingham on May 31.

Amy’s innings, scored off 114 balls and including 17 fours and 6 sixes, propelled her side to a total of 295-7 that set up a 41-run victory in the 50-over game. The in-form 28-year-old England wicket-keeper/batter’s sparkling knock followed a stirring run-a-ball 114 against Northern Diamonds two days previously.

Jones, born in Solihull, represented the Warwickshire Academy in her mid-teens, and began to be selected for England Development and Academy programmes. In 2011, when she was 18, she was called up to the England Women’s Academy at Loughborough University. Amy made her One-Day International debut for England in the 2013 World Cup, scoring 41 against Sri Lanka; her T20 International debut came five months later against Pakistan and she made her Test debut in 2019 against Australia.

A powerful striker of the ball, Amy has become an England regular across all formats since 2018, often opening the batting, and now ‘keeping on a permanent basis after Sarah Taylor’s retirement in 2019. As well as playing for Loughborough Lightning and Central Sparks, she has also represented Warwickshire Women, Sydney Sixers and Perth Scorchers.

The Walter Lawrence Trophy, now in its 87th year, is awarded for the fastest hundred of the season and is open to all domestic county competitions as well as One-Day Internationals, T20 Internationals, The Hundred and Test matches in England.

The Walter Lawrence Women’s Award is awarded for the highest individual score in a season from ECB Women’s one-day competitions and all England Women’s matches played on home soil. The Walter Lawrence Schools Award is awarded for the highest score by a school batsman against MCC.