Jonny Bairstow’s hundreds lifted England from the brink of disaster on the first day of their three Test series against the West Indies on Tuesday.
1st Test: Jonny Bairstow Hundred leads England’s recovery against West Indies on Day 1 (Reuters Photo)
HIGHLIGHTS
- England rebounded to 268 for six on stumps on Day 1 in North Sound
- Jonny Bairstow’s eighth Test hundred lifted England on Day 1
- England had lost four early wickets after opting to bat first
Jonny Bairstow’s classy hundreds helped England recover against the West Indies as they went from a tightening noose 48/4 to a breathless 268/6 on the opening day of Tuesday’s first Test. Bairstow brought up the slowest of his eight Test hundreds, his first against the West Indies, just before the end in front of a healthy pro-England crowd.
After another collapse of the highest order, Bairstow, along with Ben Stokes, rebuilt for the tourists as they left for lunch at 57/4. They combined 67 to lead England over 100. Bairstow and Ben Foakes scored 99 combined to lead England past 200, then Bairstow reached his eighth Test century in the company of all-rounder Chris Woakes. Those two saw an outplay to stumps, including six overs of new ball to complete a remarkable turnaround.
From 48.4. until 268.6
England credited Jonny Bairstow with an excellent recovery on day one in Antigua.#WTC23 | #WIvENGhttps://t.co/weVdpj7hgS
— ICC (@ICC) March 8, 2022
A feisty Kemar Roach, a miserly Jason Holder and a promising young paceman Jayden Seales collected two wickets each. Roach claimed Joe Root’s valuable wicket for 13 when the England captain offered no shot to a ball that severed the stirrups. Holder pinned Foakes lbw with the second ball of a new ban crucially to end a 99-run partnership between the wicketkeeper and Bairstow at a time when the home side was in danger of spiraling out of control.
Two months into a century against Australia in Sydney, Bairstow took no chances early on, taking 118 balls to put together his first 43 before needing 72 more to reach his 100. “I’ve been fortunate to be here on a couple of tours and it’s an amazing place to come,” he said.
“To score a century in every friendly, but especially with the traveling fans who haven’t been able to come for a couple of years, we’re very lucky to have them.”
