Did Umpire Think Ball Was Dead Too? Stuart Broad Gives New Twist To Jonny Bairstow Saga

06.07.2023 - 03:39 sports.ndtv.com

Australia's 43-run win in the second Ashes Test at Lord's was nothing less than a sucker punch for England, especially after Jonny Bairstow was controversially stumped by Alex Carey.

Bairstow's dismissal has sparked a debate over whether Carey and Australia's actions were in the 'spirit of cricket'. While a lot has been said and written with regards to the incident at Lord's, England pacer Stuart Broad feels that Bairstow wasn't trying to take any unfair advantage by leaving his crease. "With regards to the Jonny incident, zero advantage was being taken there: he let the ball go, scratched his mark within the crease, and acknowledging it as the end of the over, went to speak to Ben Stokes," Broad wrote in his column for Daily Mail.

Broad also felt that even the leg umpire thought that it was the end of the over after Bairstow had ducked Cameron Green's delivery. "And if you look at the footage of when the stumps were broken, one umpire has got the bowler's cap in his hand, the other is head down, walking in from square leg - actions that suggest they too thought the over had finished," he added.

Speaking of Australia, the visiting side was on the receiving end of a chorus of boos and abuses. Carey and the Australian team have been harshly criticised over the incident, which has caused a massive outrage within the English media.

cricket Australia Cricket Team England Cricket Team Ashes 2023 Ball Pat Cummins Cameron Green Alex Carey Stuart Broad Jonny Bairstow Britain Australia

England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow on Friday responded back to criticism received this summer for his performances following a return from injury, labelling it as "tiresome", highlighting how his injury could have ended his career and he is grateful to be where he is physically and as a player. Ever since his return to cricket this summer after a long injury gap, Bairstow has received criticism for his wicketkeeping, which many fans have described as sloppy due to numerous missed opportunities at catches and stumpings. Also, he has not also really continued the purple patch that made him the face of skipper Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum's much-hyped 'Bazball' era that started just last year.

"I Was Out That Way...": Alex Carey's Big Revelation After Jonny Bairstow's Dismissal

The ongoing Ashes series between England and Australia will be remembered for the cut-throat competition and intense game of cricket. Apart from all this, one thing which will definitely be considered among the biggest highlights of the series is the controversial dismissal of Jonny Bairstow by Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey during the second Ashes Test at Lord's. The incident took place on Day 4 of the second Test when Bairstow wandered out of the crease after ducking a Cameron Green's bouncer, thinking the ball was dead. Carey took advantage of the situation and made a direct hit onto the stumps.

"Pick A Fight With The Australians": Stuart Broad's Ashes 'Strategy' Is Bound To Leave Everyone Stunned

Since the controversial dismissal of England batter Jonny Bairstow in the second Ashes Test by Australia, the Ashes series has got a little heated up. Attacks from both sides followed. Though England lost the first two Tests, they won the third game as they ow trail 1-2 in the five-match contest. The fourth Ashes Test starts on July 19 and England will be eye to level the scores. During that match at Lord's, England fast bowler Stuart Broad could be seen sledging Australian players, particularly Aleax Carey, after the Bairstow incident. Broad said that it was a strategy. "It was such an important moment of that game at Lord's. I had to make sure that I was mentally switched on and able to do a job for Ben Stokes at the other end. Part of my strategy was to pick a fight with couple of Australians! So that I would not be focussing on too much technique and I would be focussing on the ball and make sure I stay there. Part of Ashes cricket, the rivalry, the history is very much a great battle out there. Both teams have been really stuck in this series. A lot of the players know each other really well. We lunch in the same room. It's not like there's a huge battle going on off the field," Broad said on Sky Sports.

'Don't Have Any Other Work?': Ex-Pakistan Captain Slams England, Australian PMs Over Jonny Bairstow Saga

The 'Spirit of Cricket' debate took the center stage after Australia wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey controversially stumped Jonny Bairstow on Day 5 of the 2nd Ashes Test at Lord's last week. Bairstow ducked a Cameron Green bouncer and left his crease to have a chat with England captain Ben Stokes, who was standing on the non-striker's end. However, Carey threw the ball into the stumps, leaving everyone, including Bairstow, in disbelief. The decision was referred to the third umpire and the decision went against Bairstow and England.

Ex-ICC Elite Umpire Simon Taufel Astounded By "Hypocrisy And Lack Of Consistency" By Some People In Jonny Bairstow Ashes Episode

Lambasting the "hypocrisy and lack of consistency" shown by some following Jonny Bairstow's controversial stumping in the recent Lord's Test, former ICC elite umpire Simon Taufel said people cite the 'spirit of the game' when they don't like a dismissal under the laws of cricket. Bairstow's controversial stumping in the second Ashes Test has opened a debate with the likes of England coach Brendon McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes saying it was not in the spirit of the game.