England have revealed it was Jonny Bairstow who made the decision to bat ahead of a nightwatchman late in the final session of the opening day of the fifth Ashes Test at the SCG.
Australia hauled themselves back into the match in the final two overs with the key wickets of Bairstow and skipper Joe Root after the tourists had moved to a commanding-looking score of 3-228.
After Mitchell Marsh took a diving catch off Mitchell Starc's bowling to remove Root for 83, it was expected debutant spinner Mason Crane, who was padded up in the dressing room, would come to the crease.
Instead Bairstow elected to see off the Australian pace attack and the new ball for the final two overs of the day.
It was decision that ultimately backfired when the Yorkshireman edged Josh Hazlewood to Tim Paine behind the stumps for five as England slipped to 5-233.
Asked about who was responsible for the call, Dawid Malan, who was unbeaten on 55, said it was Bairstow's decision.
Asked if he was surprised to see the in-form wicketkeeper, who scored a century in the third Test at Perth, walking out to join him in the middle, Malan said: "I was a little bit.
"But the decision's not down to the coaches to make, it's for the batsman who is in next to make.
"Jonny made that decision and good on him to make it. It takes a lot of guts to go against what people normally do.
"The new ball, he probably felt he was better suited for that."
Marsh admitted he was surprised to see Bairstow walk out and said Australia use a nightwatchman if there is 20 minutes or less left in a day's play.
"I was very surprised," Marsh said.
"In the end I was pleased. If he bats out that last over, then he's not out tomorrow and gets going.
"I've played three games this series and Lyno (Nathan Lyon) has padded up about six times for me. I would have had the nightie."
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