Jonny Bairstow inadvertently hits Dom Bess in groin area while returning ball, bursts into laughter during Surrey vs Yorkshire clash
The incident occurred during Yorkshire's fielding innings at the Kia Oval in London, with Bairstow unable to contain his amusement.
A moment of unintended comedy interrupted the County Championship Division One fixture between Surrey and Yorkshire at the Kia Oval in Kennington, London, when Jonny Bairstow accidentally struck his own teammate Dom Bess in the groin while lobbing the ball back during a fielding passage. Bairstow, serving as Yorkshire's wicketkeeper-captain, could not hold back his laughter after the mishap.
A clip of the moment has gone viral on social media, drawing wide attention to the incident that unfolded in the middle of a tightly contested four-day match.
The Bairstow and Bess incident
The sequence began when George Hill delivered a ball that Surrey batter Josh Blake failed to connect with, the delivery passing his bat without contact. Bairstow collected cleanly behind the stumps, paused briefly, then tossed the ball towards Bess, who was stationed at first slip. Bess had looked away at that moment and took the full force of the throw in the groin area, collapsing to the ground. Bairstow's reaction was immediate, and he was visibly unable to stop laughing.
The match itself, played across September 2, 3, 4 and 5, 2026, produced a dramatic finish. Yorkshire posted 185 all out in their first innings, with James Wharton contributing 45 off 123 balls and Bess himself scoring 44 off 88 balls lower in the order. Tom Lawes claimed four wickets for Surrey, while Daniel Worrall took three.
Surrey were dismissed for 83 in their first innings, and Yorkshire's second innings closed at 82 all out, leaving Surrey a target of 185 in the fourth innings. Surrey reached 187 for nine to win the match by one wicket, with Josh Blake emerging as the unlikely hero of their successful chase. He remained unbeaten on 43 off 183 balls in the fourth innings.
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Indian fast bowler Auqib Nabi picked up two wickets during the match while representing Surrey. On the other hand, Kuldeep Yadav didn't get to bowl as the conditions were heavily tilted in favour of the fast bowlers.
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