Bairstow on brink of wicketkeeping double

England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow is on the verge of completing the most prolific calendar year by a gloveman in Test history.

Having broken the record for the most Test runs scored in a calendar year by a wicketkeeper earlier this month, Bairstow is on track to also set a new benchmark for the most Test dismissals effected in a single year.

The right-hander eclipsed the 1,045 run mark set by former Zimbabwe ‘keeper-batsman (and ex-England coach) Andy Flower in 2000 during England’s first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong.

Quick Single: Bairstow's record-breaking year silences doubters

And after notching seven catches and a stumping in the drawn two-Test series, Bairstow will likely overhaul Ian Healy and Mark Boucher’s joint record for the most dismissals by a ‘keeper in a calendar year during the five-Test series against India, beginning November 9.

The 27-year-old currently has 57 dismissals in 2016, 10 behind the mark of 67 in a calendar year set by former Australia gloveman Healy in 1993 and matched by ex-South Africa stumper Boucher in 1998.

Most dismissals in a calendar year:

Should England’s bowlers continue to provide Bairstow with opportunities behind the wicket in India, he will join Healy, Boucher and Adam Gilchrist as the only ‘keepers to claim more than 60 dismissals in a calendar year.

Bairstow played his first 12 Tests as a specialist batsman before losing his spot during England’s 2013 home Ashes series and while he returned for the final two Tests of their 5-0 whitewash later that year, he subsequently spent the next 18 months on the outer.

But since his Test recall during the 2015 Ashes, his dual efforts with the blade and the gloves (which he reclaimed off Jos Buttler later that year), represents a remarkable transformation.

"It's a special feeling. I'm absolutely delighted to now hold the record," Bairstow said earlier this month after passing Flower’s record.

"You go back maybe two years and there are people writing you off to never play Test cricket again.

"To then come back and prove a few people wrong with the way that I've been playing … there were a few mumbles floating around that I wasn't good enough.

"But at the same time, there's still a lot of cricket to play this year and hopefully I can carry on in the same vein with the bat and the gloves."

Having scored three Test centuries so far this year – 150no against South Africa and knocks of 140 and 167no against Sri Lanka – Bairstow is one of just six ‘kepers to score three 140-plus scores in their careers.

But there remains one notable milestone for him still to reach in 2016, with AB de Villiers remaining the only gloveman to have scored four tons in a calendar year, a feat he achieved in 2013.