Credit: Twitter
During day 1 of the fourth Ashes Test match at the Old Trafford in Manchester, Jonny Bairstow took a blinder of a catch with the gloves to dismiss Mitchell Marsh on 51. As of this writing, the Australians are 255/7, after being put into bat by England captain Ben Stokes on July 19, Wednesday.
It was the fifth ball of the 63rd over, bowled by Chris Woakes, aimed within the line of the stumps from wide of the crease. Mitchell Marsh, who was quick in position to play it, could only muster an outside edge of the bat. The ball was dying towards the slips cordon, when Jonny Bairstow, who was wrong footed, reacted swiftly to put his glove out and managed to grab hold of it. With this impressive catch, the enterprising innings of the Australian all-rounder came to a screeching halt.
Watch the Jonny Bairstow catch here:
Earlier in the day, after being put into bat at Old Trafford, Australia lost the early wicket of Usman Khawaja, one of the best batters of the Ashes 2023, lbw to Stuart Broad for 3. His opening partner David Warner didn’t fare much better, nicking off to a Chris Woakes jaffer, after getting 32 off just 38 deliveries.
Marnus Labuschagne, scored a patient 51 off 115 balls, while compiling a decent partnership of 59 runs with Steve Smith, who was unusually flamboyant with the bat in Manchester, made 41 off just 52 deliveries, including five fours and one six, before get trapped in front of the stumps against Mark Wood. The number three batter in the Australian lineup also paired well with Travis Head, putting up a 63-run stand, before both got out in quick succession.
In the process of bouncing out Travis Head for 48 off 65 deliveries, Stuart Broad became the second fast bowler in the history of the Test format to pick up 600 wickets, the first being his teammate and fellow new ball partner James Anderson.
