Tag Ind-Eng-ODI-2011

There have been only 48 players who won man of the match award on their ODI debut. The latest to join the rare list, is Jonathan Bairstow = only the 12 Englishman..

17 September 2011, Bairstow was given his maiden international cap after Ben Stokes had moderately failed and then got injured during Natwest series against India. Bairstow came in to bat when his team needed more than 7 runs an hour and mesmerised everyone, stroking three sixes in his 21 ball unbeaten 41.

Bairstow showed he packs a punch everytime he goes for big shots as well as has a cool head on his shoulders to negotiate tough situations. Jonathan raised 75 run unbroken stand with Ravi Bopara off just 40 balls to steer his country home and was adjudged man of the match. Ask the man himself, and he describs his debut as a dream come true.

“I got a call yesterday and then to start off like this is a dream come true,” said Bairstow, who only joined up with the squad last night after being drafted in as cover for Ben Stokes.

“It wasn’t until today that I found out I was in the team – in some ways it helped. I’m really pleased with the way it started. It was fantastic, but it’s only my first game.”

Making his first appearance in England colours, Bairstow followed in the distinguished footsteps of his father David who played for Yorkshire with distinction for two decades.

Sadly, David committed suicide aged 56 in 1998, when Jonathan was eight, and the England new boy admitted: “He would have enjoyed it today. I’m sure he’s up there looking down proud at the moment.”

England one-day captain Alastair Cook, who contributed 50 to an England pursuit that also featured a run-a-ball 63 from Jonathan Trott, was nonetheless awe-struck by Bairstow’s brilliance.

“I’ve never seen an entrance like that in international cricket,” he said of an innings containing one four and three sixes.

“There was some serious skilled hitting at the end - they were not slogs. That was an unbelievable knock; I can’t praise that enough.

“He has made a name for himself. We might have just found one.”

Jonathan Bairstow's 41 is now the 21st highest score by an England debutant in ODI. Denis Amiss is only Englishman to make century on debut while 18 others have struck fifties. It has to be said that had there been more runs to make, Jonathan may have raced to even higher achievements as he played an explosive yet chanceless innings.

Jonny made his first class debut just 3 seasons ago and is seen as future for England in one day format in which they've always longed for big hitters.