India’s all-rounder, Axar Patel, shared insights into the dismissal of Jonny Bairstow during the ongoing Test against England. Patel explained that he focused on delivering wicket-to-wicket balls to counter Bairstow’s strategy of avoiding LBW.
Axar Patel played a crucial role for India on Day 1 of the first Test in Hyderabad, showcasing excellent bowling with well-executed lines and lengths, causing trouble for the English batsmen through his variations.
The highlight of Patel’s bowling performance was the dismissal of Jonny Bairstow. He delivered an exceptional ball that completely deceived Bairstow, leading to the destruction of his stumps. Patel’s full delivery on the middle stump drifted in, leaving Bairstow clueless. Despite Bairstow’s attempt to defend while anticipating the angle, the ball spun away, beating the outside edge and hitting the top of the off stump.
Up until that point, Bairstow had been in good form, but Axar Patel’s brilliance sent him back to the pavilion. Bairstow had scored 37 runs off 58 balls, featuring five boundaries in his innings.
For more details, watch: Ravichandran Ashwin dismisses Mark Wood with an exceptional delivery.
Discussing Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal, Axar Patel revealed that the batsman had set up a fourth-stump guard to steer clear of LBW situations. Consequently, Patel was optimistic about the delivery turning away. Expressing his satisfaction with the wicket, Patel emphasized that his jubilant celebrations served as evidence of his enjoyment. When talking to reporters, he clarified:
“My strategy was to consistently target the wicket-to-wicket line, considering that Bairstow had adopted a fourth-stump guard to steer clear of LBW situations. We were optimistic about a delivery turning away from the end I was bowling, given the variation in spin on the pitch. In this instance, the ball turned, and my exuberant celebrations were a clear expression of the satisfaction I derived from that wicket.”
England concluded their innings with a score of 246 runs, with captain Ben Stokes delivering a formidable performance to propel the team to a competitive total on a pitch exhibiting turning behavior from the very first day.
Axar Patel remarked that he didn’t perceive significant spin in the ball, noting that it wasn’t skidding much after landing. While acknowledging the challenging nature of the wicket, he conceded that success would favor those who could effectively manage both batting and bowling. Patel added:
“They compiled a total of 246 runs, and we were aware that the pitch was in good condition, with only occasional instances of the ball spinning. Crucially, the wicket’s slow nature made it easier to adapt to the spin. In my opinion, the ball didn’t exhibit excessive spin; it followed a standard spinning trajectory without skidding after landing. While the pitch posed its challenges, a proficient batting performance can yield runs, and effective bowling can secure wickets.”
“Although England adopted an aggressive cricket approach, my concentration remained dedicated to my bowling,” stated Axar Patel
Axar Patel continued discussing his bowling, emphasizing his commitment to maintaining precise line and length despite England’s attempts at playing aggressively. He also delved into his strategic discussions with captain Rohit Sharma, elaborating on their plans.
“Despite England adopting an attacking approach, my primary focus remained on my bowling. I concentrated on maintaining a consistent line and length, adjusting my strategy based on the pitch conditions, which proved effective during my spell.
Given England’s frequent use of sweeps and reverse sweeps, I engaged in discussions with the captain regarding field placements. As observed, we strategically positioned a fielder at point specifically to counter the reverse sweeps. Recognizing that their aggressive shot selection provided us opportunities, we aimed to capitalize on those chances to secure wickets.”
Axar Patel registered bowling figures of 2/33 from his 13 overs, claiming the wickets of both Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes. In reply to England’s total of 246, India managed to score 119 runs, but not without the loss of their captain, Rohit Sharma, who was dismissed after contributing 24 runs.
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