Bairstow celebrates ton with helmet headbutt

Talesof Jonny Bairstow’s headbutting incident left Australia captain SteveSmith giggling like a schoolboy just weeks ago, but the wicket-keeperbatsman’s maiden Ashes century in Perth yesterday allowed Englandskipper Joe Root the last laugh.Bairstow gently tapped his helmetagainst his head upon reaching the milestone to the delight of Root andhis teammates who jubilantly roared their support in the dressing room.Thewicketkeeper’s 119 helped push England to 403 on day three of the thirdtest, their highest first innings total in Australia since January,2011.Bairstow said his celebration was a bit of “light-hearted, fun”in reference to the October night out where he greeted Australia openerCameron Bancroft with a headbutt at a bar.It took nearly a monthfor the incident to be revealed, however, when Australia’s fielders wereheard trying to get inside the Yorkshireman’s head when he was battingduring the series-opener in Brisbane.Bancroft recalled the incidentin a news conference with his captain Smith sat beside him laughingheartily following England’s 10-wicket first test defeat at the Gabba.Bairstowfelt he had been “stitched up” by Australia and that the event had beenblown completely out of proportion. So he celebrated emotionally at theWACA after pulling Mitchell Marsh behind square for a single to reachhis ton.“The hundred, in many ways, was my favourite one,” the 28-year-old told reporters.“I’ve played in a few Ashes series so far now and to score an Ashes hundred is something you dream about as a kid.“Itwas really good fun out there, I absolutely loved every single minuteof it.” Bairstow was unable to truly cash in, with his batting partnerscrumbling around him as England lost their last six wickets for 35 runs.He was bowled by a full inswinger from fast bowler Mitchell Starc which clipped the inside edge and uprooted middle stump.Buthis first Test hundred in 18 months helped tweak the narrative ofEngland’s Ashes tour, which up to Perth had been blighted by a string ofoff-field incidents.It was also a part of an England record fifth wicket stand of 237 runs with Dawid Malan, who scored a fine 140.Anchoredby 92 not out captain Steve Smith, Australia moved to 203 for three atstumps, having trimmed England’s lead to 200 runs.Bairstow felt England remained well placed in the match, despite the late batting collapse in the morning session.“Youcan look at it both ways and say, look, it was a fantastic recoveryfrom being 100 for four and we’ve got 400 on the board,” he said.“Or you can look at it and go, ‘yeah, well, we’ve let the position slip.“Butat the same time... we’ve got the capabilities of taking five-sixwickets in a session, we’ve shown that previously so there’s no reasonwhy we can’t now.”