Senior Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin applauds the game smarts of the individual rather than skewing it towards unfair play or the spirit of the game while speaking on Jonny Bairstow’s controversial dismissal in the 2nd Ashes Test.
Ashwin Opens on Bairstow’s Controversial Dismissal
It happened in the first session of the England Innings as Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes had pressure on building up the score after Ben Duckett’s catch by Alex Carey. England was chasing a target of 371 and was 193 for 5 when Bairstow ducked to avoid a bouncer from Cameron Green on the last ball of the 52nd over.
On the final delivery by Cameron Green, the ball was alone to the wicket-keeper as Jonny Bairstow started walking outside the Crease towards his partner Stokes, having thoughts of the dead ball.
Alex Carey realized an opening and took advantage to dismiss the batter, and had an attempt for a direct hit at the striker’s end to catch Bairstow off-guard and succeeded in it.
🤐🤐🤐#EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/dDGCnj4qNm
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 2, 2023
Speaking on this, Indian spinner Ashwin, who has always been lectured on the ‘Spirit of Cricket’ lauded Carey for showing adequate cricketing smarts.
“We must get one fact loud and clear. The keeper would never have a dip at the stumps from that far out in a test match unless he or his team have noticed a pattern of the batter leaving his crease after leaving a ball like Bairstow did. We must applaud the game smarts of the individual rather than skewing it towards unfair play or spirit of the game,” Ashwin tweeted.
As per ICC Playing Conditions, rule 20.1.2, Carey was well within his rights to break the stumps.
The rule 20.1.2 states: “The ball shall be considered to be dead when it is clear to the bowler’s end umpire that the fielding side and both batsmen at the wicket have ceased to regard it as in play.”
Australia leads the 5-match Ashes 2023 series by 0-2 where the 3rd Ashes Test will be played on July 6 to 10 in Headingley, Leeds.
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