WATCH: Jonny Bairstow fakes collecting the ball in a hilarious incident involving Steve Smith at The Oval

Jonny Bairstow fakes collecting the ball: The English wicket-keeper batsman was seen playing smart in front of the Australian batsman.

During the second day of the fifth Test of the ongoing 2019 Ashes series between England and Australia at The Oval, England wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow faked collecting the ball in a hilarious incident involving Australia batsman Steve Smith.

It all happened on the fourth delivery of the 30th over when Matthew Wade drove a Jofra Archer delivery down the ground. Given the timing on the ball, Wade and Smith had decided to run three runs.

While Smith was returning to the striker’s end for the final run, Bairstow gestured as if the ball was being thrown towards his end while it was nowhere near him. Watching Bairstow getting ready to collect the ball, Smith put on display a full-length dive in a desperate move.

Having watched the proceedings, a majority of English players were seen giggling at how Bairstow outplayed Smith. Even Smith didn’t mind Bairstow’s action and continued with the game.

Having resumed play at 271/8 on Day 2, England were eventually bundled out for 294 in 87.1 overs. Having scored his 15th Test half-century yesterday, Buttler ended up scoring 70 (98) with the help of seven fours and three sixes.

As has been the norm throughout the series, Australian opening batsmen were once again found wanting against the moving ball. It was a 69-run stand for the third wicket between Marnus Labuschagne and Steve Smith which saw Australia getting back on track.

Jonny Bairstow fakes collecting the ball:

https://www.instagram.com/p/B2Wq6G1lCl4/?igshid=j1ckxyzcpdv4&fbclid=IwAR2vf8AAPjPCT_sBs3zMYAc6UaJaAbUpkPa2NQB4kdVZCsplF0zUcPfgh5Q

How Twitter reacted:

Fake run out attempt of Steve Smith. Bairstow’s best contribution of series @tdsymes1. https://t.co/libJdZYs6N

— Andy Cleave (@CleaveO) September 13, 2019

Bairstow tricking Smith into that dive is *easily* his biggest contribution of the series. Good spell this for both England and GIFable banters.

— Dave Tickner (@tickerscricket) September 13, 2019

That’s horse shit from Bairstow, what if Smith gets injured from diving back??? Fake tag in baseball is a no go, Smith has all right to be upset with Johnny Bairstow #Ashes2019 #ashes

— leigh davis (@leighroy45) September 13, 2019

It’s one of the worst laws in cricket, but shouldn’t England have been pinged five runs for Bairstow’s fake run-out against Smith? #Ashes

— Jacob Kuriype (@JacobKuriype) September 13, 2019

England can’t actually get @stevesmith49 out, but they can pretend to. Bairstow absolutely baits Smith into a dive with the ball nowhere near him. Wry smile from Smith who sends the next delivery to the boundary. #ashes

— England Test Selection (@TestEngland) September 13, 2019

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About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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