'You don't see that': England star sparks 'unusual' rules drama

World Cup winner Jonny Bairstow marked his return to Test cricket with a duck against Ireland but not before sparking bizarre scenes with the umpires.

The incident unfolded halfway through England's innings as they collapsed to be all out for 85 at Lord's.

Arriving in the 11th over, Bairstow took guard with help from umpire Aleem Dar at the bowler's end.

Immediately after it was noted by commentator David 'Bumble' Lloyd that the batsman was set to stand well outside his crease, the square-leg umpire Ruchira Palliyaguruge made his way over to speak to Bairstow.

"Now then, he's telling him he can't stand there," Lloyd said on Sky Sports.

"I think he's advising him – now that's his stance. He may go back, he may not go forward."

As it turns out, Bairstow was about to break a little-known rule of cricket surrounding the protected area.

Bowlers are often warned about stepping too far into the pitch on his follow-through, and some batsmen fall foul of umpires for doing the same while running.

But batsmen must also avoid the protected area when taking guard – something Bairstow did not do.

As described under the 'Unfair play' portion of cricket's laws, rule 41.15.1 reads: "The striker shall not adopt a stance in the protected area or so close to it that frequent encroachment is inevitable. The striker may mark a guard on the pitch provided that no mark is unreasonably close to the protected area."

Bairstow left his first delivery alone and all players moved on under the assumption that the over had been completed.

But with one ball remaining the umpires had, in fact, only left their position to seek out Bairstow again.

"The umpires are not happy," Lloyd said.

"The umpires are telling Jonny Bairstow that he's got to go back. That's unusual. It's obviously the law, they wouldn't be doing this if it wasn't."

Replays showed Bairstow step well forward on his leave.

"What they're saying is he's damaging the pitch," Lloyd added.

"It's unusual, you don't see that too often."

He remained out of his crease for the following ball, which was left and called dead, but play continued without further incident.

In the end Bairstow would face just six balls before becoming the third victim of Ireland bowler Tim Murtagh.