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Jonny Bairstow praises Ben Stokes partnership

Jonny Bairstow talks up his partnership with Ben Stokes as England edge closer to a second-Test defeat in India.

Jonny Bairstow has talked up his partnership with Ben Stokes as a positive to take from England's performance in the second Test with India.

The tourists were all out for 255 on day three in Visakhapatnam as they edged closer to defeat, but having been 80-5, self-styled 'ginger ninjas' Bairstow and Stokes put on an impressive stand of 110 at the crease to add to the first-innings tally.

"I think that was natural to show more fight and we will need to show it throughout the rest of the Test and the tour," Bairstow told The Guardian afterwards.

"We complement each other as left and right-handed batsmen, we rotate the strike pretty well, with a combination of calming each other down – hard to believe as two redheads out there, I know – but it seems to work quite nicely.

"There's runs to be had on the pitch when it comes to batting last – whenever that is – that will give us confidence. Everyone can see there is uneven bounce so when it comes to that, if there's a ball with your name on it then it has your name on it, but you just need grit your teeth and crack on."

India resume their second innings tomorrow on 98-3, with England trailing their hosts by 298 runs.

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Indias Cheteshwar Pujara walks back to the pavilion after losing his wicket for 11 runs during play on the third day of the fifth cricket Test match between England and India at The Oval in London on August 17, 2014
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