England centurion Jonny Bairstow marks finest moment in Test cricket with salute to the heavens

It was entirely apt that Jonny Bairstow should bring up his first Ashes century in the city where, on the opening night of this tour, he was embroiled in the ‘headbutt’ controversy that brought England’s off-field behaviour into sharp focus.

Bairstow’s celebration once he reached three figures with a hook shot off Mitchell Marsh was also apt, the Yorkshireman butting his helmet in cheeky recognition of the ‘greeting’ he gave Australia opener Cameron Bancroft in Perth’s Avenue Bar on October 29.

That followed a rather more poignant gesture from the 28-year-old, who initially marked his achievement by saluting the heavens in recognition of his late father, David Bairstow, also a wicketkeeper for Yorkshire and England and who committed suicide 20 years ago when Jonny was just eight.

Bairstow spoke honestly about that family tragedy in his recent book, A Clear Blue Sky.

It was fitting then that is exactly what he was pointing up to here in Perth when he marked what must rank as his finest achievement as an England cricketer.

This was Bairstow’s fourth Test century and second overseas following the first of his career against South Africa in Cape Town in January 2016. His average since then across 27 Tests is 49.66, making him England’s most consistent batsman in that period other than Joe Root, whose average of 50.38 in the same number of matches is only fractionally higher.

However, this batting performance was even more impressive given the off-field flak Bairstow has had to deal with in the weeks since he was — in his words — “stitched up” by the Australians when his meeting with Bancroft was leaked to the local media at the end of the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.

This was an innings that England, 2-0 down and battling to stay in this Ashes series, badly needed. It also fully justified the decision to promote Bairstow up the order to No6 in place of Moeen Ali for this match.

Indeed, had England done so from the start of this series perhaps they would be in a far better position than they find themselves.

Geoffrey Boycott, Bairstow’s fellow Yorkshireman and someone not known for handing out praise lightly, told the BBC’s Test Match Special: “It might be his best innings. The pressure on the England team at 2-0 down and with events off the field was huge.

“The batsmen had failed before this innings. So, to play without a blemish, a nick, a chance — he’s batted beautifully. If he got up the order a bit he might get a few more hundreds, too.”

In making 119 today, Bairstow also became only the sixth England wicketkeeper to score a Test hundred in Australia, joining Les Ames, Alan Knott, Jack Richards, Jack Russell and Matt Prior in that exclusive club.

Prior, who struck 118 against Australia in Sydney seven years ago, said: “Jonny has been unbelievably good for England over the past year. Every single time he gets an opportunity he takes it.

“He thrives off the added pressure and being challenged.”