Jonny Bairstow relieved as below-par England avoid ‘disastrous day’

Wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow (89) saved England’s blushes as the visitors reached 268/8 at stumps on the opening day of the third Test against India at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) I.S. Bindra Stadium here on Saturday.

The 69-run stand for the sixth wicket for England made sure the visitors go to Tea at 205/5. Adil Rashid and Gareth Batty then survived at stumps.

England’s batting mainstay fluffed a pull shot across the line and was trapped leg-before to a perfectly innocuous delivery from the off-spinner. Watchful opening pair of Alastair Cook and Haseeb Hameed could add only 32 runs as Umesh Yadav sent back the right-hander in 10th over of the day. Fit-again Chris Woakes replaced the injured Stuart Broad, while Buttler was picked ahead of struggling Ben Duckett. Cook batted fluently for his 27, which was laced with six hits to the fence.

Out of Indian bowling unit, Mohammed Shami and Ravichandran Ashwin took one wicket each.

If England had a built-in excuse for their defeat in the previous Test in Visakhapatnam, in which the toss played a massive part, they had only themselves to blame for not being in a strong position after the first day in Mohali yesterday.

Parthiv Patel dropped Bairstow off Jayant Yadav (2-49) in the 84th over.

Three of England’s top four departed to loose shots in the morning session, while Ben Stokes (29) and the recalled Jos Buttler (43) each shared in restorative partnerships but also gave their wickets away. Karun Nair dons India’s 287th Test capWhen India’s squad for the England tour was announced, there was wide speculation if its newest addition Hardik Pandya would get a look in.

Stokes, initially fluent, had managed just three singles from 30 balls off the slow left-armer before rushing up the pitch and failing to get to the pitch of a delivery that slid on with the arm past the outside-edge and presented Parthiv Patel with an easy stumping chance.

Bairstow was able to demonstrate greater sticking power, Test cricket’s leading run-scorer in 2016 again exhibiting his much-improved technique against the turning ball. They dropped three catches and allowed plenty to slip through their “gate”.

The tourists’ 283 all out was beginning to seem woefully under par in Mohali when Virat Kohli (62) and Cheteshwar Pujara (51) were sharing an ominous third-wicket stand of 75 to more than double India’s reply. It was more due to the comfort that Buttler displayed while facing the spinners as his 43 off 80 balls had five boundaries. The debutant became India’s 287th player to play a Test match.

Chris Woakes (25) added 45 runs for the seventh wicket with Bairstow, with England reaching 250 in the 83rd over.