'Dejected' Bairstow drops Kohli second ball, has to watch him smoke match-winning 77
Jonny Bairstow had a costly spill for the Punjab Kings, giving Royal Challengers Bengaluru star Virat Kohli a reprieve on nought.
England have no regrets at opting to bowl first in the Adelaide Test despite the call backfiring spectacularly.
Australia’s batsmen seized command of the second Test after being sent into bat, amassing 8-442 before declaring. The tourists are 1-29 in reply.
England captain Joe Root became the first captain electing to bowl first in an Adelaide Test since countryman Bob Willis in December 1982 – he lost that game by eight wickets.
And only one team in history has won an Adelaide Test after bowling first – the then-mighty West Indies in February 1982.
But England coach Trevor Bayliss is defending Root’s controversial decision.
“He wouldn’t do anything different,” Bayliss said.
“It’s well-documented that one of our challenges, I suppose, is taking wickets on flatter wickets.
“So Joe wanted to give our guys the best opportunity to take 20 wickets.
“On this occasion, it didn’t work out our way even though I thought we bowled pretty well. That is just the way it is, that is the game of cricket.”
Bayliss said choosing to bowl first “certainly wasn’t an easy decision”.
“It wasn’t taken lightly,” he said.
“But for us to win games, we have got to take 20 wickets and that is what Joe thought our best opportunity was – to bowl first on a fresh wicket.”
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
Jonny Bairstow had a costly spill for the Punjab Kings, giving Royal Challengers Bengaluru star Virat Kohli a reprieve on nought.
Bazball was developed as a strategy devised to use the resources efficiently rather than revolutionize the system.
England's tour of India has ended in abject fashion as the tourists were hammered by an innings and 64 runs inside three days, with…
India have bowled England out for a below-par 218 and cruised to 1-135 in reply to seize early control of the fifth and final…
India have accomplished a nervy run-chase to secure a five-wicket victory against England in the fourth cricket Test in Ranchi. Chasing a modest 192…
In the build up to the India vs England Test series, there were reasonable predictions that India would be the ultimate challenge for Bazball.…