Jonny Bairstow said on Tuesday that becoming the latest member of England's 100 Test club means a "hell of a lot" after being joined by close family and friends this week to mark the occasion in Dharamsala.
Bairstow is set to become the 17th Englishman to reach the prestigious milestone when the fifth Test against India starts on Thursday and he could not wish for a more picture-perfect setting than the HPCA Stadium, which features stunning views of the Himalayan snow-capped mountains in the background.
Unlike England captain Ben Stokes, who remarked in Rajkot earlier in the series of his own 100th Test being "just a number", Bairstow intends to embrace every moment in what he anticipates will be an emotional week.
"It means a hell of a lot," said Bairstow, well-known for wearing his heart on his sleeve. "Every young kid that sets out on a journey playing professional cricket wants to try and play 100 Test matches. You look back to 2012 when I made my debut at Lord's, if 12 years later you'd said I'd be playing 100 Test matches, you'd snap your hand off for one, but also pinching yourself as well."
"It will be an emotional week. I'm proud, you know what I'm like, I'm an emotional guy - so get the tears ready, the tissues even. It's a special week for me like it was a special week for Ben a few weeks ago."
Bairstow, who coincidentally registered his 100th ODI appearance at the same venue, has experienced many highs and some dispiriting lows over the course of his England career.
He amassed the most runs by a wicketkeeper in a calendar year in 2016 and lit the touchpaper for the Stokes-Brendon McCullum era with four centuries in five innings in a stunning 2022.
Bairstow then had to fight his way back to fitness after suffering a badly broken leg at the back end of that year.
As for whether he can cash in on his landmark appearance in England's final assignment on the tour of India, who took an unassailable 3-1 lead last time out in Ranchi, Bairstow is crossing his fingers.
"It would be nice," he said. "Like in every game, you put your best foot forward. No matter what it is, I'll be going out there, chewing my gum, puffing my chest out and trying to have a good time with the other blokes out there. Whatever the situation is, we'll be going out there with smiles on our faces, like we have done in the whole series."
A chillier climate has greeted England in the foothills of the Himalayas and there has been speculation of England altering the balance of their bowling line-up, with the most recent match on this wicket in India's domestic first-class competition four weeks ago showing that all 36 wickets fell to the seamers.
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