“That's why he's in this team” – Fans erupt as Jonny Bairstow smashes unbeaten 99 off 81 balls in 4th Ashes Test

England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow starred with the bat in the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford in Manchester on Friday, July 21. The right-handed batter smashed unbeaten 99 runs off 81 balls, including four sixes and 10 boundaries, to respond to his critics.

Even though Bairstow missed out on his well-deserved ton, he helped the hosts lead by 275 runs after the first innings as England were bundled out for 592 in 107.4 overs.

Bairstow came in when England 437/5. The Yorkshire batter shared a 47-run partnership with Harry Brook for the sixth wicket and then added 66 runs for the last wicket with James Anderson.

Heartbreakingly cruel 💔

Jimmy Anderson is out LBW, leaving Jonny Bairstow stranded at the non-strikers end on 9⃣9⃣*.

Incredible knock, @JBairstow21 👏

We lead Australia by 2⃣7⃣5⃣.

#EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/czthZq7GKB

With his 99*, Bairstow also returned to form after scoring 20, 16, 10, 12, and 5 in his last five innings. The 33-year-old, though, had scored 78 in the opening Ashes Test at Edgbaston.

Fans on Twitter hailed Jonny Bairstow for his unbeaten 99, which helped England take a 275-run lead. One user tweeted:

"Who cares about the three figures anyway?! THAT was magnificent from Jonny Bairstow. That's why he's in this team."

Who cares about the three figures anyway?! THAT was magnificent from Jonny Bairstow. That's why he's in this team. #Ashes

Here are some more Twitter reactions to Bairstow's innings:

Jonny Bairstow waiting for Jimmy Anderson later pic.twitter.com/15dhS2pVEs

Jonny Bairstow is absolute class, to anyone who has doubted him I hope they have just watched the last hour of him completely taking the piss out of the Aussies in every way. What a knock.

This is what Jonny Bairstow can do. He can hurt you in a way no other batter in the world can. Simply outstanding cricketer. Missed out on a well deserve 100.

#ENGvAUS #Ashes23 pic.twitter.com/y0Tj8fqkJP

Extraordinary Jonny Bairstow! Gutted no ton but great knock. 👏#TheAshes2023

The ashes
The Jonny Bairstow

#CricketTwitter #Ashes23 #englandcricket @englandcricket

Jonny Bairstow unreal 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

99* for Jonny Bairstow, desperately unlucky but what an innings. Incredible all round and it may be enough to win by an innings

Poor Jonny Bairstow, 99 not out, but still what an innings! 😍

Absolutely ridiculous batting effort from England. That is the reason Jonny Bairstow cannot be dropped from this England team 👏🏻👏🏻 #ENGvAUS

Jonny Bairstow...just WOW 🏏👏👏
#TheAshes
#Bazball

Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow shine as England frustrate Australia in 1st innings of 4th Ashes Test

A clinical batting performance from Zak Crawley and Jonny Bairstow helped England dominate Australia in the first innings. Crawley top scored with 189 runs off 182 balls, including three sixes and 21 boundaries.

Joe Root (84), Harry Brook (61), Moeen Ali (54), and captain Ben Stokes (51) also came up with valuable contributions.

Jonny Bairstow remains stranded on 99 as England are all out.

#WTC25 | #ENGvAUS | 📝 bit.ly/43ucaFf pic.twitter.com/5jl6IPxCLD

Josh Hazlewood starred with the ball for Australia, returning with figures of 5/126 while Mitchell Starc and Cameron Green settled for two wickets apiece. Australian captain Pat Cummins also ended up with a solitary dismissal, dismissing his England counterpart Ben Stokes.

Earlier on Day 2, Chris Woakes’ fifer helped the hosts bundle out Australia for 317. Stuart Broad also scalped two wickets to reach the historic milestone of 600 wickets in Tests.

Click here to follow the 4th Ashes Test live score updates.