Sir Alastair Cook has likened Jonny Bairstow 's stunning 136 off 92 balls that helped guide England to a brilliant five wicket win over New Zealand in the second Test at Trent Bridge to playing the classic video game 'Brian Lara Cricket' on "cheat mode".
Bairstow launched a stunning blitz on the final day of the Test as England successfully chased down 299 runs in just 50 overs to complete a series victory with one match remaining. It was a breath-taking innings from the Yorkshireman, who brought up his half-century off 51 balls before going berserk and needing just 26 more to reach three figures.
In the process, Bairstow scored England's second-fastest Test century off just 77 balls, leaving him just behind Gilbert Jessop in the record books. 120 years, Jessop reached his hundred off 76 balls as England chased down 263 to earn a consolation victory in the 1902 Ashes series.
Bairstow's innings will go down in history as one of Test cricket's greatest and Cook was full of praise for the 32-year-old. Speaking on commentary for BBC Test Match Special, he said: "I'm probably the least qualified to comment on what's just happened in the last hour.
"So I'm going to sum it up in one sentence. What Jonny Bairstow has just played is like playing Brian Lara's Cricket on cheat mode."
It is a line that will resonate with those who grew up playing the popular series of games, with Bairstow essentially batting on 'Slog Mode' after tea as he and Stokes bludgeoned 59 runs off the first four overs following the break.
Reflecting on his innings, Bairstow said: "Look at the crowd which has turned up on day five of a Test match at Trent Bridge - 13,000. People question Test cricket at times and the way in which it is played over a period of time.
"But there's been more than 500 scored in both first innings and 300 chased down in the last innings. If that isn't an advert for Test cricket, I don't know what is.
"It was fantastic to have such a crowd on day five. It was full of buzz, everything you want in Test cricket. It was so fresh - it was great."
