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In a rare and entertaining conclusion to an otherwise uneventful County Championship Division 1 match between Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge, Jonny Bairstow rolled his arm over for the first time in more than a decade.
Jonny Bairstow ends 11-year bowling hiatus in drawn County clash
With the match heading inevitably toward a draw, Bairstow, who has been appointed Yorkshire’s captain for the season, handed over wicketkeeping duties to Finlay Bean, who had earlier struck a superb double century (218), and decided to bowl the final over of the match. It marked Bairstow’s first over in professional cricket since 2014, when he bowled in a County match against Durham.
Taking the ball with a mischievous smile, Bairstow set his own field and attempted a few stuttered run-ups before delivering his right-arm off-breaks. Though the deliveries were modest and intended in good spirits, he completed the over without drama as Ben Slater and Freddie McCann played him out safely. His figures read 0-6 in one over, and the match was called off immediately after the over concluded, confirming a draw. Despite not picking up a wicket, the over symbolized Bairstow’s return to bowling after 11 years and was warmly received by teammates and fans alike, adding a human and joyful moment to the close of the contest. It was a fitting end to a match devoid of much tension, but not without charm.
Here’s the video:
Your eyes aren't playing tricks 👀
Jonny Bairstow with the ball for first time since 2014! pic.twitter.com/fs8IdxCjjq
— Yorkshire CCC (@YorkshireCCC) June 25, 2025
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High scoring result less encounter between Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire
The game had already reached a point of no return after Yorkshire posted 510 in reply to Nottinghamshire’s 487, with no batter from the home side reaching a hundred but still managing a hefty total. Yorkshire’s reply was dominated by Bean’s 200-plus score and a gritty 93 not out from Matthew Revis, giving the visitors a slight upper hand on paper but not enough time to force a result. When Nottinghamshire came in to bat again, Haseeb Hameed fell early, but a composed 67-run stand between Ben Slater and Freddie McCann ensured a quiet end to the day. With the outcome a foregone conclusion, Bairstow finally opted to give the crowd a final bit of amusement by rolling in to bowl.
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