When discussing Jos Buttler’s lack of red-ball cricket in the lead-up to his Test return, England’s stock phrase was that it was not ideal. When it came to pass, on the first day in Mohali, the situation that greeted the No7’s arrival at the crease was much the same.
A morning of self-inflicted wounds by the touring batsmen in the watery-grey sunshine of northern India in autumn meant England were 92 for four at lunch and, having thus blown a key victory at the toss, Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes found themselves rebuilding the innings.
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