NEW DELHI:
England
were 60/3 at the fall of
Zak Crawley
's wicket when
Jonny Bairstow
walked to the crease in the first Test against India in Hyderabad on Thursday.
With former captain
Joe Root
for company, Bairstow looked to steer England out of trouble and took his team to lunch at 108/3 in their first innings.
Bairstow was batted particularly well on the back foot keeping the Indian spinners at bay.
Till
Axar Patel
struck in the fifth over after lunch.
Axar bowled a delivery that drifted in, landed on a fuller length around middle and Bairstow played for the angle but he was half-forward to block.
The ball, however, spun away to beat the outside edge and hit the top of off, leaving Bairstow stunned.
The wicket broke the 61-run stand between Bairstow and Root. And it was a crucial breakthrough as Bairstow (37) was looking in good touch.
The Indian cricket board (BCCI) shared a video of Bairstow's dismissal on X:
England have come into the game with three specialist spinners and Root, who also bowls.
Mark Wood
is their only fast bowler.
India, who remain unbeaten at home in a Test series since 2012 when
Alastair Cook
's England beat them 2-1, have three spinners and two seamers in the playing XI.
English (US) ·