Ashes 2023 | Twitter reacts as local hero Bairstow's villain arc continues with yet another dropped sitter

England took firm hold of proceedings in the morning session of the third Ashes Test in Leeds as four scalps had the visiting Australians down and out at 91/4 heading into Lunch. However, the hosts could have had an even bigger advantage after the two hours of play were it not for Jonny Bairstow's form behind the stumps as the Yorkshireman, playing in front of his home crowd at Headingley, let two chances slip including a regulation catch of Travis Head.

The first opportunity came through Ollie Robinson's bowling with a newly arrived Steve Smith finding a thick edge of a bowl that jagged in sharply off the seam. However, the thick deflection meant it was only a half chance for the keeper albeit the opportunity offered later in the day was anything but. Express speedster Mark Wood steamed into Travis Head in the 24th over with pressure quickly building on the men from Down Under and counterattacking Travis Head visibly uncomfortable against the sheer speed of the right-arm quick. Wood banged in a short delivery sliding well down leg on the fourth ball of the over but Head instinctively felt for the ball and made the slightest contact with the Dukes ball off the face of his bat. Bairstow, stationed quite a distance away from the stumps, shockingly let the red cherry slip away from his grasp despite reaching it comfortably, allowing the batters to sneak a run as well.

Both Wood and Stuart Broad were left devastated by the missed opportunity considering Head's recent record against England while the crowd was also stunned into pin-drop silence. Bairstow has been facing severe heat for his poor wicketkeeping throughout the series including a host of dropped catches in the first two Tests and given his silly antics at Lord's that practically cost England the fixture, the 33-year-old finds himself in dire need of redeeming himself to ensure he retains his spot in the lineup heading forward. 

No Bairstow, No!

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