England’s Jonny Bairstow creates unwanted Test record against India

England’s Jonny Bairstow faced disappointment yet again as he was dismissed for a duck on Day 3 of the ongoing third Test match against India in Rajkot. This was his eighth duck against India in Tests, setting an unfortunate record for most ducks by any batter against the hosts.

Bairstow’s struggles against the Indian bowling attack have been evident throughout the series and his last dismissal only adds to his woes. Facing Kuldeep Yadav, the 34-year-old cricketer failed to make an impact and fell for a four-ball duck.

Jonny Bairstow part of an unwanted Test record

Bairstow’s innings was short-lived, as he arrived at the crease following Joe Root’s dismissal with England at 224 for three. However, he faced just two deliveries from Kuldeep Yadav before being given LBW on the fourth delivery. The ball turned sharply, catching Bairstow off-guard, and he departed without adding any score to the scoreboard.

This dismissal was Bairstow’s eighth duck against India in Tests, placing him at the top of an unwanted list. His struggles against the Indian bowling attack have been evident, with a lack of substantial scores in the series so far. Despite playing five innings, Bairstow has managed to score only 98 runs at an average of 19.60, failing to register a fifty-plus score.

List of players with the most number of ducks against India in Test cricket:

8* -Jonny Bairstow
7 – Danish Kaneria
7 – Nathan Lyon
6 – James Anderson
6 – Shane Warne
6 – Mervyn Dillon

Former Indian spinner Anil Kumble praised Kuldeep Yadav’s delivery that led to Bairstow’s dismissal. Kumble said on JioCinema, “Kuldeep bowled exceptionally well. The trajectory that he bowled to the left-handers. Once he got Jonny Bairstow with that LBW decision, he bowled really well. Trajectory was the key, much quicker in terms of pace, the lines that he bowled , he got turn from the surface, his variations were impeccable, even troubled Dhruv jurel behind the stumps.”

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