JONNY BAIRSTOW threw his fourth remarkable innings and continues to give the extraordinary and historic look.

England's batsmen have never displayed such speed and savagery in three consecutive Test matches.

Bairstow's leadger at Trent Bridge Headingley, Edgbaston and now Edgbaston are mind-boggling 475 runs starting from 434 balls.

The four innings he played are worth recollecting: 136 from 93 ball, 162 form 157 ball, 71 not out of 44 balls and 106 form 140 balls.

These numbers are unbelievable, an incredible collection of demolition jobs that is unmatched in Test cricket. Bairstow brought Twenty20 to Test matches, and it's absolutely amazing.

He has been the main beneficiary of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes' so-called "Bazball", aggressive approach. Bairstow, who is also a major proponent of Bazball, is now playing a more prominent role in the field brains trust.

Yet, England remain on course to lose the Fifth Test to India despite Bairstow’s innings on Day Three. They will also surrender the series 3-1 (remember that they are 2-1 behind last summer).

India was 125-3 at the end, a lead of 132 in their first innings and in a position that could set England a goal that Bairstow and Co may not be able to meet.

If they had a funereal over rate, they would have been even further ahead. The public was being scammed by slow play and, as Saturday showed, a shameful reluctance after rain delays to get started sooner.

Bairstow was slow to settle in the morning. However, once he decided that he would press the accelerator, he moved from 16 to his century in only 54 deliveries.

He threw fast bowlers over their heads for four-bounce fours, hooked six and once placed quick bowler Shardul Thakur in the crowd at the long mid-wicket boundary.

He seemed to be fired up after a spat with Virat. After Kohli used fruity language in an attempt to express his frustration at the play and miss, Stumps mics captured Bairstow telling Kohli to shut up (with an expletive).

There were some tensions and the umpires had to intervene. It ended with Kohli patting Bairstow's arm in an apparent conciliatory manner, although the former Indian captain did give him a kiss after he was out.

Bairstow claimed that the incident was nothing, just two passionate cricketers trying their best for their country.

Stokes is trying hard to be aggressive and set the tone for the summer with the bat, but at times he has fallen back on his old ways of slogging. Bairstow has, however, been very selective with the balls he attempts to hit and meticulous in his execution.

Stokes had two chances to make it 25 before he left. The first was a skier that Thakur lost at mid-wicket, and the second was a drive to midoff that Jasprit Bumrah misjudged.

Bumrah had a better chance of leaping to his left at the mid-off ball next ball.

Bairstow received lbw on 89, but he immediately called for a replay. This showed an edge.

The boundary of his fifth Test century in 2022 was provided by Ravi Jadeja's misfield. It took 119 balls, which is not bad considering that he was only 16 from 65 deliveries.

Bairstow was finally caught at slip. Stuart Broad attempted to slog but failed. Sam Billings continued on, Matthew Potts edged into slips.

India was again at the crease when Jimmy Anderson caught Shubman Gill at second slip immediately.

Hanuma Vihari lost an attempt to drive to the third slip, and Kohli then edged a Stokes snorter. Joe Root, however, caught the rebound, even though wicketkeeper Billings dropped his original chance.

Since November 2019, Kohli has not achieved an international century in any format.

England's final innings saw England resort to negative tactics, with Root trying to get his spinners outside the stumps and Anderson sending down bouncers around the wicket. There was not much evidence of 'Bazball.

Just before the end, Cheteshwar Pujara had reached his half-century. Rishabh Pan, who scored an incredible century in India's first innings of play, will resume his 30th not out run on Monday morning. He can also use licence to search for quick runs.