It is the fielding position referred to in cricket as Boot Hill; the Wild West graveyard for cowboys who died with their footwear still on, such is the precarious nature of the task. Helmet, shin pads and a box may be the norm but few are seen badgering their captain to be placed at short-leg.
The absence of volunteers at Essex in the late 1980s and early 90s even resulted in danger money being paid for those prepared to sit under the batsman’s armpit all day awaiting the catch, while here in the desert, Jonny Bairstow is committing the somewhat foolish mistake of being rather good at it.
The first of two catches for him on day one was admittedly simple; a bat-pad teased from the opener Mohammad Hafeez by Moeen Ali that neatly popped up there to be snaffled. The second, however, removing the No3 Shoaib Malik for two, was one for the highlights reel on another day in the dirt for the fielding side.
It was a strike in the first over from Ben Stokes, too, whose participation in this second Test hinged on his recovery from the stomach bug that had challenged the all-rounder at both ends at the start of the week and provided the sole threat to England’s stated plans to name an unchanged team.
Alastair Cook insisted on Wednesday that, given the heat in Dubai, Stokes would only play if 100% fit. After losing the toss – his opposite number Misbah-ul-Haq was almost apologetic when stating his intention to bat – the England captain conceded Stokes was still short of this mark.
Nevertheless, the 24-year-old was ready to battle through, demonstrating as such when he somewhat curiously performing a handstand on the outfield before play. Throwing Stokes the ball 18 overs into proceedings, Cook was keen to capitalise on Moeen’s post-drinks break incision.
As it was, Shoaib’s wicket proved something of a bonus, clipping the fourth ball off his hip in such an innocuous fashion that the word single must instantly have popped into his head. Even when sweetly timing it into the short-leg’s body, he would not have thought himself in trouble.
Bairstow is a brave Yorkshireman, of course, who, protection notwithstanding, follows in the footsteps of the late, great Brian Close; such is the bravery – or foolhardiness – of their breed that turning away when the bowler drops short is seemingly not an option.
Instead, Bairstow was face-forward in readiness and took the hit, with the ball crashing into his chest and ballooning up. With presence of mind, he tracked its trajectory off the body before propelling himself forward for a one-handed take. Mark Wood later credited his time spent in the gym honing a barrel chest, along with the football skills this England side work so hard on in their warm-up.
Stokes induced the enduring image of England’s Ashes-winning summer from Stuart Broad when he held that catch at Trent Bridge; here he must have been equally stunned. Spare a thought for Shoaib, too, for it was the second match in a row that Bairstow has held his nerve – and position – to claim the right-hander’s wicket at Boot Hill.
