Jonny Bairstow sets sights on 2023 World Cup

London: Jonny Bairstow was the Player of the Match as England survived a few jittery moments to beat Ireland by four wickets.
The 30-year old Bairstow smashed the joint-fastest fifty by an England batsman in ODIs on Saturday as he blitzed 82 in 41 balls to help England get off to a flier while chasing 213. The half-century came off just 21 balls as England made 77/2 in the first 10 overs.
Bairstow also crossed 3000 runs in ODI cricket in his 72 innings becoming the joint-fastest England batsman to do so in the format alongside Joe Root. But more than personal milestones, the wicket-keeper is keen on contributing to the team's cause and has already declared his ambitions to help England retain the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup in 2023.
"I'm really proud of that [3000-run milestone]. It's been a testing journey at times but to have reached that landmark - and hopefully there's many more - means a lot now," Bairstow told Sky Sports.
"But we go again - we try and reach 4,000, we try and reach even more than that, as long as you're contributing to the team and playing the way we have been over the last few years.
"We're striving to keep pushing those boundaries forward to 2023. That's my next bit - I want to be there in 2023 and really pushing and see if we can retain it.
Bairstow had hit an 88-ball 127 in the intra-squad warm-up game before the series and after a blip in the first match of the series, is back to doing what he does best.
"I'm enjoying batting at the top of the order and the partnership with Jason (Roy) has gone well. Naturally, there's things I want to work on, that comes with time but at the moment I'm happy with the way I'm striking the ball.
"I've had a bit of a lay-off and to get runs in the warm-up game, then back it up in the ODIs is really pleasing."
Bairstow's blitz had eased England's path to a win but Curtis Campher brought Ireland back into the game by dismissing the opener, Eoin Morgan and Moeen Ali in the space of three overs. Sam Billings and David Willey then combined to put on an unbroken 79-run stand to see England through.