Ashes 2023

Watch: Jonny Bairstow takes absurd, reflex bat-pad one-hander to dismiss Mitchell Marsh off Moeen Ali | Ashes 2023

by Wisden Staff July 31, 2023 - 5:10pm 2 minute read

Watch: Jonny Bairstow took an absurdly special catch in Australia’s post-rain delay collapse on the final day of the 2023 Ashes series, standing up to the stumps and reacting quickly to dive one-handed and dismiss Mitchell Marsh.

Australia collapsed quickly in the final session of play at the Kia Oval. They were 264-3 and needed another 119 runs to win the match. However, Moeen Ali opened up an end by dismissing Travis Head, before Chris Woakes struck in the following over to get rid of Steve Smith. It took Moeen only five balls to Marsh in his next over to continue the collapse.

Moeen bowled a fairly straight ball which turned back in slightly to the right-hander. Attempting to defend, the ball turned enough to find the inside edge of Marsh’s bat before also clipping his pad and rolling up onto his chest. The ball then ricocheted into the off side, well wide of Bairstow who was standing up to the spinner.

Showing incredible reaction speed, Bairstow dived to his right, straight across Root at slip who was already moving wider to get to the ball. Bairstow just managed to cling onto the ball in the tips of his glove as he fell to the ground and rolled over, holding the ball aloft in celebration.

The entirety of the England team promptly ran over and mobbed Bairstow in celebration of the ridiculous piece of work, made all the sweeter by the question marks surrounding Bairstow’s keeping earlier in the series. The collapse went from bad to worse for Australia in the next over, Mitchell Starc also caught behind the wicket off Woakes. That left them 275-7, having lost four wickets in three overs.