Bairstow leads England's counter-attack on Day 3

India came face to face with the second coming of Jonny Bairstow, the Test cricketer, on the third morning of the Edgbaston Test. The England middle-order, who already has four Test hundreds to his name since the Ashes series, rocketed away to 91* as England scored 116 runs for the loss of Ben Stokes in a frenetic morning session. They still trail by 216 runs but with Bairstow around and in this mood, the Test match finally has a semblance of balance.

Under bright skies for the first time in this Test, India began the day just like they ended it, with Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah hooping the ball around, even if the movement itself wasn't as exaggerated as it has been at other points in this game. Bairstow, in particular, connected with thin air multiple times with bat swishes as he looked to break his shackles.

Ben Stokes, as is his won't, opted to step out to the pacemen and even succeeded in one of his attempts against Shami. The intent was clear, England weren't going to allow the situation and India's bowlers to dictate terms. The approach bore fruit as both overnight batters survived the opening half hour and even managed to add 39 runs in the process. Along the way, Bairstow even engaged in a war of words with former India captain Virat Kohli.

The battle seemed to have the effect of firing Bairstow up, for he proceeded to launch a thrilling assault on India thereafter. The full balls from Bumrah and Shami were lofted over the in-field. His surge coincided with India needing to call upon their second line of fast bowlers. Mohammed Siraj was nonchalantly flicked over mid-wicket and then chipped over cover for back-to-back boundaries in his first over.

Bairstow, who had 16 off 64, went through a 14-ball period in which he hit six boundaries and reached 50 off 81 balls. India, who'd been warned of the new England approach, erred on the field when Shardul Thakur and Bumrah dropped Ben Stokes. They did combine to atone for their errors when Bumrah took a diving catch at mid-off to send the England captain back for 25 after a 66-run stand.

There was, however, little respite from Bairstow. Thakur, who had broken the partnership in the first over, was swivel-pulled and carved through covers by Bairstow, who otherwise reserved his best for Siraj. India's third seamer was pulled for another six and taken off the attack after his five-over spell went for 37. Thakur was then smashed over mid-wicket for another six as Bairstow raced towards his century. He reviewed an on-field LBW decision after being wrongly adjudged out off an inside edge before the day saw its first spell of rain sending the players in for an early Lunch.