Jonny Bairstow is relishing the prospect of impressing England Test captain Andrew Strauss during the forthcoming England Performance Programme camp in India.
Yorkshire’s Bradford-born 22-year-old is set for three weeks of training in Pune and Mumbai with the country’s brightest young stars.
They will also be joined by a trio of current Test players in Matt Prior, Eoin Morgan and Strauss, who are all preparing for the three-match series against Pakistan in the Middle East in January and February.
And Bairstow, who has played six one-day internationals, said: “I’m sure every one of us will be wanting to try and impress with the England captain coming out and us having the opportunity to work alongside someone who has been so successful.”
Bairstow will return to India just five weeks after being part of the 5-0 one-day series whitewash against the world champions, in which his top score was 35.
“It was the first time I’d ever been to the sub-continent,” he added. “I was put in the environment of international cricket for the first time – away from your home country – and it was tough.
“It was never going to be easy but we will have learned from our experiences on and off the field.
“There are areas that we’re going to improve on and that’s why we’re going back to India with the Performance Programme.
“I think it’s fantastic that we’re able to go back there for these three weeks, to learn how to play in those conditions and to groove your game.”
Meanwhile, Yorkshire’s Andy Fogarty has been named the ECB’s four-day groundsman of the year for 2011.
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