England’s Jonny Bairstow has received an emotional gift of his late father’s wicketkeeping gloves from an Australian fan at the second Ashes test in Adelaide.
He took possession of them before the start of the third day’s play on Monday and said it was a “fantastic gesture.”
His dad, David, a former England test wicketkeeper, took his own life when his son was eight.
Australia have the edge in the second test in Adelaide. Photo: EPA
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“I’ve had them for 39 years. My mum and dad took me to an Adelaide shopping centre and the English cricket team were there to meet,” fan Andrew Johns said on Thursday.
“They had a little quiz – they asked who the reserve wicketkeeper was for England and I shot my hand up, and said David Bairstow, and they gave them a pair of gloves and he signed them.
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“I’ve had them sitting in a box for the last 39 years.”
Johns said he made contact with Jonny Bairstow and arranged to meet him at the Adelaide Oval.
