JONNY Bairstow will not be resting on his laurels after last year’s stunning form in Test cricket.

Bairstow is relishing the start England’s summer of Test matches next week, against South Africa at Lord’s when Yorkshire team-mate Joe Root will lead the side for the first time.

Bairstow has been on Yorkshire duty for their pink ball Championship match against Surrey at Headingley.

Last year, the 27-year-old ace scored 1,470 Test runs, the most in a calendar year by any wicketkeeper in the history of the game.

“I’m pleased with the way I’ve played over the last year, but it’s a new year,” said Bairstow.

“I’ve not played much cricket this year. I’ve played bits and one four-day game before this week. There’s a lot of cricket ahead.

“There’s seven or eight Tests this summer before we leave for Australia on October 28 and don’t come back until April 6 if you’re picked for everything.

“That’s quite a lengthy stint, but I’m looking forward to it.

“There’s a great excitement about next week, the first Test match at Lord’s against South Africa. It’s the start of the English summer.

“When you walk into Lord’s and hear the band playing, you drive in and see the queue of people about to walk into the members stand, they’re special things you don’t forget.”

“We saw how much of a thrilling series it was in South Africa last winter, and there’s no reason why it can’t be replicated.”

Bairstow’s county captain Gary Ballance is in line for an England recall having scored 815 Championship runs this season.

“We don’t know what the selection’s going to be,” said Bairstow. “There are a few places up for grabs and a few that are injured.

“It’s going to be fascinating, but Gaz’s form is second to none.

“Gary’s scored a serious amount of runs, but he has done over a long period of time. You can’t argue with his stats. He’s scored 32 first-class hundreds and 41 fifties.

“He’s scored four Test hundreds and still averages 40 in Test cricket. He’s just had a dip in form in Tests. He’s a serious player and a class act.”

On the pink ball, floodlit concept for Test and first-class cricket, Bairstow said: “At the end of the day, we want Test cricket to be around for as long as possible.

“But the jury’s going to be out because it’s the first time we’ve done it.

“The players have bought into it wholeheartedly and will continue to do so. It’s an exciting place for us as cricketers to be.”