JONNY Bairstow is not taking his place as England's first-choice Test wicketkeeper for granted despite his impressive form with the bat and agrees his glovework is still very much a "work in progress".

Bradford-born Bairstow has been in superb touch during England's tour to South Africa and followed up scores of 41 and 79 in the first Test with unbeaten knocks of 150 and 30 in the second match.

That century was Bairstow's first for his country and all signs seem to suggest the 26-year-old can now look forward to a sustained run as England's Test wicketkeeper, having taken over the role from Jos Buttler during the tour to Pakistan.

However, while he obviously hopes he can hold on to the job for the long term, the Yorkshireman is not about to rest on his laurels.

He told a press conference yesterday: "I don't think you can ever say you've nailed it down (the wicketkeeper's spot), but I'm pleased with the contributions I've made.

"When I played as just a batsman in the Pakistan series I made some decent contributions there but then perhaps didn't go on to make that big contribution.

"I think I've only kept for four or five Test matches so it's still a natural learning curve, you're still bedding into Test cricket as a batsman and as a wicketkeeper.

"I'm still a young guy learning what is a massive test of everybody. It's a massive learning curve.

"I'm pleased with the way I'm catching the ball and now pleased with the way I'm moving. Hopefully people will be able to get behind me with my keeping and my contributions with my batting and hopefully that will bring me more confidence too."

England coach Trevor Bayliss said last week that Bairstow's keeping was still a "work in progress", and the player himself concurs.

He added: "I'm pleased with way it's going. As Trevor mentioned, it is a work in progress but you're only going to learn by doing, that's the way I've always done things.

"I've invested a lot of time, a lot of energy, a lot of pain in my keeping as well as my batting, and I don't see any reason why I can't go forward now for a long career keeping wicket for England, but also contributing with my batting too."