04 July 2023 , 08:58
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Australian batter Travis Head has accused Jonny Bairstow of hypocrisy over his controversial dismissal in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.
Bairstow was stumped by Australia wicket-keeper Alex Carey during England’s fourth-innings run-chase. Carey threw down the stumps as Bairstow ventured out of his crease to chat to Ben Stokes, believing the ball to be dead at the end of the over.
Australia captain Pat Cummins refused to withdraw the appeal and third umpire Marais Erasmus allowed the wicket to stand. The visitors were then booed by the Lord’s crowd and abused by a few members of the MCC inside the pavilion as they went on to win by 43 runs to take a 2-0 lead.
England have suggested that the dismissal was not in the spirit of cricket, with Stokes saying he would not have wanted to win a game in that manner. However, Head said Bairstow tried a similar method of dismissal against him during the first Test at Edgbaston.
“Jonny wasn't too pleased,” Head told the Willow Talk podcast of the immediate reaction to Carey’s throw. “And I sort of reminded Jonny last week I walked out of my crease at Edgbaston at the end of an over.
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“I quickly whipped my bat back and questioned Jonny on whether he would take the stumps and he said, 'Bloody oath I would', and ran off. So, I sort of reminded him that remember last week when you said you'd do exactly the same thing.
“Two days before he also tried to throw Marnus [Labuschagne]’s stumps down. So, in the moment, in the heat of the battle, things come out and things are played out.”
Jonny Bairstow was furious with Australia's decision not to withdraw the appeal (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! Were Australia out of order, or was their dismissal fair game? Comment below.
Bairstow reluctantly left the field following the decision and was caught on the TV cameras staring out of the dressing room window with anger in his eyes. After Australia dismissed Stokes for 55 and knocked over the tail to win, Bairstow was seen giving Cummins a steely glare in the post-match handshakes.
England coach Brendon McCullum criticised the Australians for their handling of the incident and suggested relations between the two sides have become strained. "I can't imagine we'll be having a beer with them any time soon," McCullum told BBC Test Match Special.
"I think it was more about the spirit of the game and when you become older and more mature you realise the game and the spirit of it is something you need to protect.
"You have to make decisions in the moment and they can have effects on games and people's characters. By the letter of the law, he is out. Jonny was not trying to take a run and the umpires had called over. It is one of those difficult ones to swallow and you look at the small margins it is incredibly disappointing.”