Twitter reactions: Jonny Bairstow leads England fightback with a stunning century on Day 3 of Sydney Test

[Brexiter]

England batter Jonny Bairstow rose to the occasion when his team needed him the most on Day 3 of the ongoing fourth Ashes Test against Australia in Sydney. Bairstow smashed the first century for the visitors in this series in the final over of the day. The right-handed batter smashed Cummins over the backward point for a boundary to reach the triple-figure mark.

Bairstow came to bat when England had lost four wickets for just 36 runs. He formed a game-changing 128-run stand for the fifth wicket with Ben Stokes to shift the momentum back into the favour of tourists.

However, Stokes (66) and Jos Buttler (0) fell in quick succession in the final session to leave England 173/6, but Bairstow formed another crucial partnership with Mark Wood (39 off 41) of 81 runs for the seventh wicket to lead England’s fightback.

Bairstow hit his seventh century in Test cricket, second against Australia, and stayed unbeaten for 103 as England reached 258/7 at stumps.

For Australia, Scott Boland (2/25) and Cummins (2/68) bagged two wickets each, while Mitchell Starc (1/49), Cameron Green (1/24) and Nathan Lyon (1/71) picked up one wicket apiece.

Here is how Twitter reacted:​

Well played @jbairstow21 ??????

— Brett Lee (@BrettLee_58) January 7, 2022

That’s a fantastic 100 @jbairstow21 !! So much courage & determination to carry on after the thumb & bollock blows .. Stroke play of the highest order .. that’s the spirit .. that’s all we ask .. #Ashes ?

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) January 7, 2022

Well played @jbairstow21 ?? #Ashes https://t.co/Qiy8xo4iXL

— Matt Prior (@MattPrior13) January 7, 2022

Like the Indians last year, we love fighters and that is exactly what @jbairstow21 has done. So happy for him #Ashes

— Lisa Sthalekar (@sthalekar93) January 7, 2022

Well done @jbairstow21 how and why he hasn’t played is beyond me! A pointless experiment that never worked with Butler and one that had significant consequences for Johnny’s test career #ashes

— Nick Compton (@thecompdog) January 7, 2022

Jonny Bairstow brings up his century ?? very very well played. Had the whole SCG crowd on their feet! #Ashes pic.twitter.com/NTw5hIobAq

— Chloe-Amanda Bailey (@ChloeAmandaB) January 7, 2022

England in a long, never-ending tunnel of darkness. Oh, they desparately needed this ton.

A bit of character.

— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) January 7, 2022

This match started on the anniversary of David Bairstow's death. There was a lot of emotion in Jonny's hundred celebration. Some things are more important than Ashes series

— Nick Hoult (@NHoultCricket) January 7, 2022

It’s taken 3 and a bit Tests but the England dressing-room finally gets the opportunity to give one of their own a standing ovation & even the Aussies waited around with David Warner clapping the loudest as Jonny Bairstow walked up the stairs after his courageous ton #Ashes pic.twitter.com/Rqw9IhEEN8

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) January 7, 2022

English cricketers who have scored multiple Ashes centuries on Australian soil this century:

Alastair Cook
Michael Vaughan
Kevin Pietersen
Jonathan Trott
JONNY BAIRSTOW#Ashes

— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) January 7, 2022

Delighted for Bairstow, who has struggled since Buttler's recall in 2018, been mucked about a fair bit by England management, and often (unfairly) treated with disdain by fans. It's not everything, but there are few people to whom this all matters more, for a number of reasons.

— Will Macpherson (@willis_macp) January 7, 2022

Get in, Jonny Bairstow. Arrived 36-4, dragged England to the follow-on target – and potentially saved the Test. Smashed on the hand, could barely hold the bat, but he's toughed it out brilliantly and played with his characteristic brutal flair. Chuffed.

— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) January 7, 2022

Stumps in Sydney ?

Jonny Bairstow's gritty century leads England's fightback on day three!#AUSvENG | #WTC23 | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/bxmhtWl6i9

— ICC (@ICC) January 7, 2022

Wonderful innings @jbairstow21 ??

— Max Rushden ? (@maxrushden) January 7, 2022

Jonny Bairstow, 103 not out. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/ktetQivoQd

— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) January 7, 2022

Bairstow soaks up the applause from the crowd as he leaves the ground, with the Barmy Army in fine voice as he gets plaudits from his teammates ? #Ashes pic.twitter.com/GcU9gZoClb

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) January 7, 2022

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