Top Ad
I DIG Radio
www.idigradio.com
Listen live to the best music from around the world!
I DIG Style
www.idigstyle.com
Learn about the latest fashion styles and more...

Ashes finds its flashpoint as Bairstow stumping ignites England

Written by 
Published in Cricket
Sunday, 02 July 2023 07:56
England were left fuming by Australia's decision not to withdraw their appeal for the stumping of Jonny Bairstow before lunch on the fifth day of the Ashes Test at Lord's.

With England five down, needing a further 178 runs to win, Bairstow ducked underneath a short ball from Cameron Green, scratched the crease with his boot and walked down the pitch towards his partner Ben Stokes at the non-striker's end.

Before Bairstow had begun to leave his ground, wicketkeeper Alex Carey had gathered the ball on the bounce and, in one motion, under-armed a throw at stumps at the striker's end. The standing umpires, Ahsan Raza and Chris Gaffaney, referred the decision to TV umpire Marais Erasmus as replays showed Bairstow was some way out of his crease.

Bairstow glared at the Australian huddle as he walked off and boos rang out around Lord's. The crowd - who have been largely subdued throughout the first four days of this Test - then chanted repeatedly: "Same old Aussies, always cheating."

Per the Laws of the game, the ball was not dead. According to Law 20.1.2: "The ball shall be considered to be dead when it is clear to the bowler's end umpire that the fielding side and both batters at the wicket have ceased to regard it as in play." Clearly, Australia still regarded that the ball was in play.

"Carey doesn't wait for Bairstow to walk out," Mark Taylor, the former Australian captain, said on Sky Sports. "He's going to do that regardless. It doesn't look good and people aren't going to be happy about it, but it's the right decision." Mike Atherton, the former England captain, described the dismissal as "dozy cricket from Bairstow, and costly cricket".
Eoin Morgan was even more emphatic on the lunch time show. "I've been here since I was a 13-year-old and I'm looking at playing my whole career here, and I've never seen scenes like that, particularly in the long room nevermind all the way around the ground," he said.

"There was a huge sense of frustration but I can't understand why. it's complete naivety around what has happened with Jonny Bairstow's dismissal. [It was] 100% out. I was on comms with Mark Taylor and he called it exactly right. In the balls leading up to his dismissal, this is just complete naivety.

"The ball is not dead at any stage and Jonny Bairstow leaves his crease. He's obviously in his own little bubble, they are bowling short, bowling full, accurate bowling. Testing his defence. But you cannot do this, and it's actually really smart from Alex Carey recognising what is going on. Bairstow's in his own little world, and it's an opportunity to take a wicket"

Nevertheless, England's players - most evidently Stuart Broad, who was the next man in - were visibly incensed. Broad engaged in several heated discussions with Australia's fielders before lunch. He was heard on the stump microphone telling Carey: "That's all you're ever going to be remembered for, that."

Stokes too switched gears, although that might have been because he was suddenly batting with the tail. He was 62 off 126 balls when Bairstow had to walk back, but soon charged to a hundred off 142 balls, belting the wicket-taker Green for three back-to-back sixes as Lord's went wild.

The needle continued even when play stopped for lunch. Broad clapped sarcastically towards Cummins and exchanged words with both Marnus Labuschagne and David Warner. Usman Khawaja was also pictured speaking to an MCC member in the Long Room as he walked back towards the dressing rooms.

Both Cricket Australia and MCC released statements in response to events in the Long Room. A Cricket Australia spokesperson said: "Australian management has requested the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) investigate several incidents involving spectators in the members area during lunch on day five of the Lord's Test.

"It is alleged players and staff from the Australian team were verbally abused, with some being physically contacted, as they made their way to lunch through the members area."

An MCC spokesperson said: "The Long Room is unique in world cricket and the great privilege of players passing through the Pavilion is very special. After this morning's play, emotions were running high, and words were unfortunately exchanged with some of the Australian team, by a small number of Members.

"We have unreservedly apologised to the Australian Team and will deal with any Member who has not maintained the standard we expect through our disciplinary processes. It was not necessary to eject anyone from the ground and I am pleased to say that there was no repeat of this as the players resumed the field for this afternoon's session."

Matt Roller is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @mroller98

Read 114 times

Soccer

Confused Kompany: 'I don't look at' UCL standings

Confused Kompany: 'I don't look at' UCL standings

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsBayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany said he doesn't fully understan...

PSG boss Luis Enrique on UCL defeat: Blame me

PSG boss Luis Enrique on UCL defeat: Blame me

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsParis Saint-Germain coach Luis Enrique acknowledged in an angry ret...

David Coote faces new FA probe over betting claim

David Coote faces new FA probe over betting claim

EmailPrintThe English Football Association (FA) has launched an investigation into allegations suspe...

2026 FIFA


2028 LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC

UEFA

2024 PARIS OLYMPIC


Basketball

KD, Beal return as Suns' big 3 leads rout of Lakers

KD, Beal return as Suns' big 3 leads rout of Lakers

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsPHOENIX -- Bradley Beal and Kevin Durant each scored 23 points and...

Giannis out vs. Heat due to pregame knee issue

Giannis out vs. Heat due to pregame knee issue

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsMIAMI -- Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is out for Tues...

Baseball

Champion Dodgers adding Snell, sources say

Champion Dodgers adding Snell, sources say

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsFree agent left-hander Blake Snell and the Los Angeles Dodgers have...

Dodgers split $46M from record MLB playoff pool

Dodgers split $46M from record MLB playoff pool

EmailPrintOpen Extended ReactionsNEW YORK -- A full postseason share for the World Series champion L...

Sports Leagues

  • FIFA

    Fédération Internationale de Football Association
  • NBA

    National Basketball Association
  • ATP

    Association of Tennis Professionals
  • MLB

    Major League Baseball
  • ITTF

    International Table Tennis Federation
  • NFL

    Nactional Football Leagues
  • FISB

    Federation Internationale de Speedball

About Us

I Dig® is a leading global brand that makes it more enjoyable to surf the internet, conduct transactions and access, share, and create information.  Today I Dig® attracts millions of users every month.r

 

Phone: (800) 737. 6040
Fax: (800) 825 5558
Website: www.idig.com
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Affiliated