Gone back to being young Jonny: Bairstow relishes purple patch after Headingly Test hundred vs New Zealand

England vs New Zealand: Jonny Bairstow said his mind is clutter-free at the moment and the 'see-ball-hit-ball' approach is helping him get the big runs for England in Test cricket.

England batter Jonny Baristow said it was special for him to score a Test hundred in front of his home crowd in Headingley, saying it's an emotional feeling to do well for England with friends and family watching on from the stands. Bairstow hit 130 not out in just 125 balls on Day 2 of the 3rd Test against New Zealand on Friday, June 24.

Jonny Bairstow, who hit the 2nd fastest hundred by an England batter in England's series-clinching win over New Zealand at Trent Bridge earlier this month, continued his rich vein of form in red-ball cricket, hitting as many as 21 boundaries in a counter-attacking knock.

Bairstow and Jamie Overton, the fast bowler on Test debut, came together at 55-6 in reply to New Zealand's first innings total of 329. The pair lashed out in a record unbeaten stand of 209 runs to lead their side to 264-6 by stumps.

Bairstow and Overton hit 33 boundaries between them as the duo scored at a staggering run rate of 5.6 per over in England's highest seventh-wicket stand to peg back New Zealand and put the Test back on edge. England headed to Stumps on Day 2, trailing New Zealand by only 65 runs.

"Yeah it feels amazing, you know how much this place means to me. Being a Yorkshire lad scoring a Test hundred at home is pretty special and all my family and mates are here as well," Bairstow told Sky Sports.

"Every time that you score a Test hundred it is emotional.

"You know what I am like, it means so much to play for England in Test cricket and that is the kind of guy I am.