Pat Cummins Reveals His Role In Jonny Bairstow's Controversial Dismissal In Ashes 2023

Australian skipper Pat Cummins opened up about his role in England batter Jonny Bairstow's controversial stumping during the second Ashes Test last year, which proved to be a turning point in the series, igniting England's motivation to bounce back from a scoreline of 0-2 to draw the series 2-2. During the second Test of the Ashes series back in July last year, Bairstow was stumped by wicketkeeper Alex Carey for just 10 runs in a run-chase of 371 runs. The stumping was done when Bairstow had stepped outside his crease, assuming that the ball was dead after he ducked it.

Just when he stepped out, Carey wasted no time in running him out. The dismissal proved to be a big one for Australia as England skittled out for 327 runs in the run-chase and went down in the series by 2-0.

The runout, carried out on the fourth day of the game, proved to be one of the biggest controversies in the recent history of the Ashes series. The Australian team was abused by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) members in the Long Room of the Lord's Stadium when they came back for lunch, and debates on 'Spirit of Cricket' were done endlessly, with many fans and experts opining that Bairstow either should have been warned or the dismissal should not have been carried out. The dismissal, though, was legal as per the laws of cricket.

Speaking in a footage of 'The Test' documentary releasing on May 24 this month, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo, Cummins said, "Cam Green was bowling and bowled a bouncer and he [Bairstow] ducked underneath it and then just walked out of his crease. So I just said to Kez [Carey] the ball before, I said, 'Kez, just have a throw'."

Carey was on point with his stumping as Bairstow was given out by the TV umpire. Speaking about