Watch: Jonny Bairstow was bowled by a sharp-turning beauty from Axar Patel on day one of the first IND vs ENG Test in Hyderabad today (January 25).
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England won the toss and elected to bat first. After a quick start, they suffered a mini-collapse going from 55-0 to 60-3. Jonny Bairstow came out to bat at No.5 and stitched a rebuilding partnership with Joe Root.
They added 61 for the fourth wicket before Bairstow was dismissed by a near-unplayable delivery from Axar Patel. Bowling from round the wicket, Axar landed the ball on middle stump at a good length. Bairstow came forward to defend but was comprehensively beaten as the ball turned sharply past his outside edge to beat his bat and crash into the top of the off stump.
It was a remarkable delivery. Despite bowling from the corner of the crease, Axar landed the ball on middle stump and still managed to find enough turn to beat the bat.
This was the third time that Axar dismissed Bairstow in Test cricket. During England’s previous Test tour to India, Axar had troubled him throughout, getting him out for a pair in Ahmedabad. Their current match-up in the longest format reads: 22 runs, three dismissals, 7.33 average.
Watch Axar Patel clean up Jonny Bairstow with sharp-turning beauty:
𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁. 𝗪𝗮𝘀. 𝗔. 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁! ⚡️ ⚡️@akshar2026 with his first wicket of the match 👏 👏
Follow the match ▶️ https://t.co/HGTxXf8b1E#TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/liBwODtcrM
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 25, 2024