Malan and Bairstow make Ashes history with massive partnership

England pair put on 237 for the fifth wicket against Australia in the third Test

Dawid Malan and Jonny Bairstow have been busy making history in Perth.

The England pair’s fifth-wicket partnership in the first innings of the third Test in Australia rewrote the record books on a minute-by-minute basis at the WACA on Friday.

Resuming with the score on 305 for four, following an excellent opening day, Malan and Bairstow took no time in elevating their stand beyond 200 on the second morning.

That made it England’s best ever partnership for the fifth wicket in any Test match, home or away, against Australia - surpassing the 206 made by Denis Compton and Eddie Paynter at Trent Bridge in 1938.

At the WACA, no England duo has ever put on more - the previous record was held by Bill Athey and Chris Broad for the first wicket in 1986.

Malan was eventually dismissed for 140, caught by substitute fielder Peter Handscomb off the bowling of Nathan Lyon, to end the stand at 237.

The Middlesex batsman’s individual score was England’s second highest ever at the WACA, only Broad sits ahead of him in the all-time list with his knock 31 years ago.

Sadly for England, the bottom order could not make the most of the platform provided to them.

Following Malan’s dismissal, the tourists lost five wickets for 25 runs in the space of 37 balls and were eventually bowled out for 403. Bairstow finished with 119.

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