Jennings plays down 'pigeon hoo-ha' after unfortunate dismissal

Keaton Jennings had made 42 on Wednesday when the winged creature landed on the square and refused to budge, even after encouragement from the batsman, his partner Joe Root and both umpires

^{England opener Keaton Jennings tries to get rid of a pigeon on day one}

Keaton Jennings insisted that the Edgbaston Pigeon had nothing to do with his unfortunate dismissal on day one of the Test series against India.

Jennings had made 42 on Wednesday when the winged creature landed on the square and refused to budge, even after encouragement from the batsman, his partner Joe Root and both umpires - Aleem Dar and Chris Gaffaney.

A break of what seemed like forever but was in reality around two minutes followed as the bird was finally chased from the playing area, only for Jennings to be dismissed the following ball, playing on to Mohammed Shami off the inside of his boot.

It was a harsh break for the Lancashire man, who had made the most of a life given to him on nine by Ajinkya Rahane and looked well set at the crease.

However, he was quick to dismiss the idea that it was the pigeon who was responsible for the wicket.

^{Jennings was bowled by Mohammed Shami for 42}

"The best players in the world have those lucky breaks go in their favour, but that’s the way it is," Jennings said.

"I’ve obviously made an error, misjudged the ball and it’s ended up on my stump. That’s the way it is.

"Thirty overs before, people were standing up behind the bowler’s arm, so you could say that distracted me as well.

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"You refocus, you go through your own process between each ball. I wouldn’t say it distracted me at all.

"I suppose it just happens to be the ball before I got out that there’s a huge hoo-ha about a pigeon."

England finished day one on 285 for nine, having at one stage on the first afternoon been sitting pretty at 216 for three.