Jonny Bairstow pulls off a sensational ONE-HANDED catch to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne

Jonny Bairstow’s sensational one-handed catch denied ICC No 1-ranked Test batsman Marnus Labuschagne the chance to place a glove on England after the Australian was dismissed for a golden duck on the second day at Edgbaston. 

The wicketkeeper-batsman is back in the gloves for just the second time since suffering a horror leg break that kept him out of Ben Stokes‘ Test side as they travelled to Pakistan and faced New Zealand. 

But he looked back to his formidable best as he pounced low on Labuschagne’s nicked effort to send his opponent back to the pavillion with nothing to show for his attempts. 

Bairstow’s re-introduction to the side, which saw him picked for England’s Ashes’ warm-up against Ireland in May, comes after a spell with Yorkshire to reacclimatise the player after his time on the sidelines.

Johnny Bairstow (right) sent Marnus Labuschagne packing with a stunning one-handed catch

The wicketkeeper-batsman was quick off the mark to pounce low and catch the Australian

England celebrated wildly as the world No 1 was caught out for a golden duck on Saturday

With his role re-established, Ben Foakes failed to make the playing squad despite impressing in Bairstow’s absence. 

On commentary, Australian former cricketer Mark Taylor teasingly questioned whether Bairstow had broken his leg at all, ‘or whether he’d just had six months holiday’ due to his sparkling form on Saturday morning.  

Labuschagne’s introduction in the 11th over of the second day of the first Test in this summer’s Ashes series came amidst a profitable over for Stuart Broad with the ball. 

Broad sent David Warner packing in Australia’s first dismissal of the series with his previous delivery, after the batsman dragged the ball back onto his stumps. 

The 36-year-old bowler, who wasted no time winding Australia up ahead of the first Test, whipped the raucous Hollies Stand in a fit of anticipation before bowling Warner, England supporters erupting in a frenzy in the wake of his dismissal. 

But Australia have no shortage of batting firepower within their ranks. 

Labuschagne was swiftly replaced by No 4 in the order, Steve Smith, who sits second in the ICC’s rankings. 

Fifth in the batting order is Travis Head, the ICC’s No 3 ranked batsman, three places ahead of the only England player in the world top ten, Joe Root.

Root made a century on Friday during England’s first innings, and was 118 not out when Stokes made the audacious decision to declare at 393/8. 

Labuschagne may have left without a run to his name but Australia’s batting order is full of quality players to replace him

The 36-year-old made hay with the 11th over, dismissing two of Australia’s opening order

Just one delivery earlier, Broad had claimed Labuschangne’s team-mate David Warner (centre)

Australia claim to have not been caught off guard by the declaration, which sent the batsmen to work for four overs before stumps on Friday evening. 

But Bairstow revealed he and few other members of the side had no idea about the roguish attacking call, adding that it was ‘a scramble to the pads’. 

‘I’m sure he (Stokes) had a couple of conversations with Brendon (McCullum) and the relevant bowlers but one of them was out in the middle so there can’t have been too many that knew about it and I definitely wasn’t one of them,’ Bairstow shared on Thursday. 

‘It was a scramble to get the old tape and pads on but to be fair, when you’re not expecting something, it’s the best form of attack,’ Bairstow added.