By Will Jackson
Jonny Bairstow says he and the rest of the England Performance Programme have relished the chance to test themselves this winter.
Bairstow was part of a select squad that travelled for a three-week intensive training camp in Colombo, Sri Lanka, before moving on to Potchefstroom, South Africa, for another gathering that is drawing to an end with players and coaching staff flying home tomorrow.
The initial camp gave the players an opportunity to hone their respective techniques against quality spin bowlers, something the Yorkshire wicketkeeper-batsman found hugely beneficial.
Speaking exclusively to ecb.co.uk, the 25-year-old said: “It was a good trip.
“It started off quite frustrating with the weather but that’s something that comes and goes. We can’t control that but the sessions that we had out there when we were able to train went brilliantly.
“Having the opportunity to play and face the local net bowlers as well as our quality spinners is an invaluable thing to have on a trip like that.”
After the spin camp, the majority of the squad moved on to Potchefstroom to team up with the fast bowlers, while Tom Westley remained to play in Sri Lanka's first-class domestic competition and spin trio Stephen Parry,Samit Patel plus Zafar Ansari returned to the UK.
The opportunity to work with players that have international experience is something Bairstow has enjoyed.
“It’s constantly being able to play and test yourself against guys that have been in and around the England team as well, preparing yourself for when that next step comes,” he said.
“Being able to face people like Samit and Stephen Parry and now in South Africa, people like Jimmy (James Anderson), Broady (Stuart Broad), Boydy (Boyd Rankin) and (Liam) Plunkett and all the other guys that are bowling – it’s an invaluable thing to have. That exposure is something that everyone is really enjoying.
“There is healthy competition being around these guys getting better day by day. It’s a fantastic atmosphere to be around."
Last afternoon in Colombo... Thanks for having us! http://t.co/wy364Y8befpic.twitter.com/u0zNzAD2Kd
— Jonathan Bairstow (@jbairstow21) December 9, 2014