Jonny Bairstow opened on his controversial stumping by Alex Carey during the second test match in Ashes 2023.
Jonny Bairstow rekindles Ashes Stumping row
Jonny Bairstow was dismissed on the final ball of an over on the last day at Lord’s. While over had not been called, Australia’s decision not to withdraw their appeal is not in the spirit of the game.
The wicket stood and the Australian was verbally abused by fans and members as they left for lunch. The stumping led to lots of controversies until the end of the Ashes series.
England players refused to have drinks with Australia after the Ashes which is the traditional way of completing the Ashes series.
While speaking about the incident Bairstow said, “The decision was that I was out, and I moved on,” in an interview after a net session at The Oval prior to the fifth Test of the series. “I’ve not brought it up since. I’ve kept quiet. It’s on them.
“If that’s how they want to go about it and win a cricket game or what have you, then so be it.”
Moeen Ali who was also quoted in the book, implied Australia and Pat Cummins missed the chance to exorcise Newlands ball-tampering saga after which they were branded cheats.
“My view was it was out, obviously,” Moeen told. “I just thought it was a great opportunity for Pat Cummins to put to bed a lot of the things that have happened previously.
“Not just put to bed, but take away that label they have had for a while with ‘Sandpapergate’.”
Bairstow said there was a difference between stumping a batter sneaking off the crease for scoring runs and catching the batter unaware for wicket dismissal.
“If you try to gain an advantage, then it’s fair game,” he said. “But if you’re starting in your crease, you’ve ducked, tap, tap, scratched. I’ve even dragged my bat, looked up, and then gone.
“I’ve never seen it happen from someone starting in their crease. I don’t think you want that filtering down into kids’ cricket.”
“There’s conjecture around everything,” he said. “Fingers underneath the ball when the ball’s still touching the ground. Celebrating when the ball has touched the ground. Marnus celebrated at Edgbaston at short-leg.
“Then the one that ‘Rooty’ fell to at Lord’s, when [Smith] said his fingers were underneath the ball. However, they were splayed widely. But that was given out, that’s fine – it’s part and parcel of the game and the decisions the umpires give.”
England has played four matches so far in the World Cup 2023 where they have only one victory against Bangladesh. England is set to face Sri Lanka in their next World Cup match on October 26 at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
