Five face-saving partnerships which rescued England after batting failure

Batting first at the Rose Bowl, Southampton, England found themselves in trouble against India’s vigorous bowling attack on the opening day of the ongoing fourth Test.

With Indian pace bowlers bowling at their prime, England was already tottering at 86/6 with a grave danger of being bowled out cheaply. The brave rearguard action then displayed by the returning duo of Sam Curran and Moeen Ali carried England to safer shores with their 81-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

Such partnerships by the middle order batsmen after the failure of the batsmen at the top is not a new phenomenon for England. Here are five such instances from the recent past where the English middle order rushed to save the scene after the initial debacle.

#1 Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow (127 against Bangladesh, October 2016)

The English team arrived in Bangladesh to participate in a two-match Test series in October 2016. Playing on the subcontinental dust bowls was never a cheerful scenario for the England batting line-up and it did not take much time for the nightmare to realize.

In the second innings of the first Test at Chittagong, England plummetted to 62/5 with Bangladeshi spinners grinning at England’s inability to play the spinning cherry. However, English ace all-rounder Ben Stokes and wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow combined their powers for a stirring reply.

The pair encountered the spin menace successfully for the next 34 overs while adding 127 runs for the sixth wicket. Stokes top-scored the innings with 85 on his name while Bairstow added 47. The remaining tail added 50 more runs to help England register a close 22-run win over the hosts.

#2 Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow (110 against India, November 2016)

Ben Stokes and J Bairstow fought hard against India at Vizag

After the 1-1 Test series with Bangladesh, England faced the stiffer challenge of the Indian spinners on India’s treacherous turning tracks. With the first Test ending in a draw, England required another courageous effort on the second day of the second Test at Vizag while replying to India’s first innings total of 455 all out.

England lost their opener Alastair Cook in the third over and despite Root’s 53, found themselves in trouble at 80/5 with the trail of 375 runs. Once again, it was the pair of Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow that came to England’s rescue with a fighting resistance.

Stokes (70) and Bairstow (53) kept the deadly pair of Ashwin and Jadeja at bay for the next 44 overs and brought England closer to avoiding the follow-on with their 110 runs partnership. Stokes kept battling after Bairstow’s departure but India soon clinched 200-run lead and later achieved a 246-run win.

#3 Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood (95 against New Zealand, March 2018)

Jonny Bairstow (101) and Mark Wood (52) stitched a gallant partnership against NZ

England conceded a loss in the first Test of the two-match series against New Zealand in New Zealand and was inserted to bat first at Christchurch in the second Test by Kane Williamson, the Kiwi captain. After castling Alastair Cook early, Boult and Southee ran through the English top-order.

At 164/7, England was still not out of the danger of posting an inadequate first innings total. The incoming batsman Mark Wood provided a great support to Jonny Bairstow and the duo accumulated 95 runs against the fiery bowling of Boult and Southee, who ultimately shared all ten wickets between themselves.

Mark Wood (52) was dismissed after his half-century while Bairstow (101) went on to notch up a well-deserved Test century. From a delicate position of 164/7, England reached a respectable 307 and also gained a 29-run lead in the eventually drawn Test.

#4 Jos Buttler and Dom Bess (126 against Pakistan, May 2018)

Debutant Dom Bess paired up with Jos Buttler in a courageous partnership

In the first Test at Lord’s, Pakistan had England already pinned down on the mat as the visitors had skittled them for only 184 in their first innings. In reply, the subcontinental nation posted 363 thus securing a healthy 179-run lead.

In the second innings, the picture was not too different for England as Mohammad Abbas and Mohammad Ameer reduced them to 110/6. With 69 runs still in arrears, England was staring down the barrel until the debutant Dom Bess paired with Jos Buttler.

Jos Buttler (67) and Dom Bess (57) then stitched together a crucial partnership of 126 runs to remove the possibility of an innings defeat and pushed England’s lead to a substantial number. However, England lost three quick wickets after Buttler’s dismissal and ultimately suffered a nine-wicket defeat.

#5 Jonny Bairstow and Chris Woakes (189 against India, August 2018)

Chris Woakes brought up his maiden Test hundred in his epic stand with J Bairstow

England and India waged an enthralling battle at Edgbaston in the first Test where England overcame a defiant Virat Kohli to clinch the win. The see-saw continued in the second Test at the Lord’s as well.

With the swing wizard James Anderson bowling at his best, England got India all-out for only 107 runs in their first innings. In reply, England stumbled intermittently and at 131/5, India could sense the possibility of a comeback.

Fall of the fifth wicket brought in Chris Woakes, who was replacing Ben Stokes in this Test match. He and Jonny Bairstow then combined for a 189-run partnership for the sixth wicket which knocked the wind out of India’s sail. Woakes scored his maiden hundred (137 not out) and Bairstow (93) narrowly missed out on a well deserved century.

England then declared with a 289-run lead and bundled India out for only 130 runs to register an innings and 159 runs win.