Jonny Bairstow dedicates 100th Test to his mother who survived cancer two times.

England’s dynamic batsman and wicketkeeper, Jonny Bairstow, is on the verge of reaching a significant milestone in his remarkable cricketing career. As he prepares to take the field at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium against India, Bairstow is poised to mark his 100th Test appearance, a feat accomplished by only 16 other English cricketers. With a tally of 5974 runs, including 12 centuries and 26 half-centuries, Bairstow maintains an impressive average of 36.42. His imminent induction into the esteemed Centurion Club underscores his enduring impact on English cricket.

Ahead of the fifth and final Test against India in Dharamshala commencing Thursday, the 34-year-old attributes his forthcoming milestone to his mother, a two-time cancer survivor. Throughout his upbringing and amidst a career-threatening injury, her unwavering support has served as Bairstow’s cornerstone, anchoring the family through adversity. This acknowledgment underscores the profound influence of familial encouragement on his cricketing odyssey.

Bairstow said “When I play, there are times I think about dad. But I think more about how hard mum worked to make sure we were OK after everything that happened. To keep us together as a family. That has been my driving force. My mum is the embodiment of strength. There was a determination there. She worked three jobs and had two kids that were under 10 at a difficult time. She was taking me to Leeds United (where he played youth football), to Headingley, all sorts of other places.“

“It’s paying all that back, making sure they are OK, creating a life for my own family as well. She had cancer twice. She’s a bloody strong woman, to get through that twice, before you even consider anything else she’s been through, and it shows the strength and determination of the woman”