Ashes News: Jonny Bairstow slams hundred, Ben Stokes hits fifty as England enjoy day 3 of Sydney Test

For the first hour of the third day of the Sydney Test, the same old Ashes horror was being played out for England. England lost 4 wickets for 14 runs, with Scott Boland, Mitchell Starc, and Cameron Green wreaking havoc. Boland picked up the big wicket of England’s leading run-getter in 2021 Joe Root for 0. Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow had dug in. Then a verbal spat between Stokes and a spectator fired England up. Stokes thumped a fifty but Bairstow showed his class by smashing his seventh fifty. Bairstow’s century, combined with Stokes and Mark Wood’s histrionics helped England avoid the follow-on. But, they still trail by 158 runs against Australia at stumps on day 3.

It represented a serious turnaround for England after a horror 14 days in the Ashes. They had surrendered the Urn in just 12 days, having capitulated to 68 in Melbourne. But, in Sydney on day 3, the turnaround was superb. It did not look like that at the start of the day when England was in danger of further humiliation.

Australia rip England apart in first session

The start of the day was delayed by a couple of hours as a steady drizzle plagued Sydney. On resumption, England’s openers looked to make amends. But, Starc got one through the gate of Haseeb Hameed to begin the procession. Crawley withstood some fierce blows on his body but he grew in confidence with every passing over. But, Scott Boland produced a top ball that nipped back in to hit the top of off stump.

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Root edged a full ball that was taken at the second slip. When Green sent back Malan for 3, England was in big trouble. After the lunch break, England did not score a single run for 70 deliveries as Stokes and Bairstow dug in. However, there was a freak moment that changed the course of the match in the first ball of the 31^st over.

Stokes shouldered arms to a full delivery that cut back in sharply. The ball clunked the off stump but the bail was not dislodged. Australia felt that the ball brushed the pads and appealed. The umpire gave it out but Stokes overturned the decision thanks to DRS. The fact that the bail was not dislodged despite the ball hitting the stump firmly confounded the Australians.

Stokes, Bairstow build on the momentum

Stokes then pounced on the Australian attack, smashing three fours off Mitchell Starc. But, both players were confident against Nathan Lyon. Just like how Australia went after Jack Leach in Brisbane, England did the same to Lyon in Sydney. Bairstow also followed suit with a couple of boundaries. As the tea session approached, there was another ugly moment. Stokes had a verbal altercation with a spectator as he was heading up. The individual was ejected by security but that fired up both Stokes and Bairstow.

Stokes and Bairstow each hit a six off Lyon after the resumption. But, the bowler had his revenge as he trapped Stokes in front for 66. Bairstow was hit on the thumb by a vicious bouncer from Pat Cummins that required treatment. But, he bounced back in style with a big six off the Australian captain. When Jos Buttler fell for 0, the follow-on threat loomed.

But, Wood and Bairstow threw their bats around to frustrate Australia. Bairstow neared his century with a couple of big hits. Wood piled on the misery for Australia with two sixes off Cummins as the partnership went past fifty. Wood’s entertaining knock ended on 39 with Cummins bowling a vicious bouncer. But, Bairstow notched up his century in the last over of the day as England finally had something to smile on a tough tour.