The Ashes 2023 has been a thrilling and eventful series so far, with memorable performances, tense finishes, and some controversial moments. One such incident that sparked a heated debate is the dismissal of England’s wicketkeeper-batter, Jonny Bairstow.
On Day 5 of the second Test at Lord’s, England resumed their innings with Ben Duckett and Ben Stokes at the crease. Although the duo started off well, Australia managed to break the partnership with Josh Hazlewood dismissing Duckett for 83 off a well-directed bouncer.
Bairstow came in at number six, aiming to build a crucial partnership with the skipper Stokes. However, his innings ended in a bizarre manner. In the 52nd over of England’s chase, the 33-year-old left the final ball of Cameron Green’s over, assuming it was dead. To his surprise, Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey made a direct hit at the striker’s end, catching Bairstow short of his crease.
Bairstow was baffled by the unusual dismissal, as the aggressive batter believed the over was finished, and he had no reason to expect Carey to throw the ball at the stumps. Meanwhile, the English fans expressed frustration by booing the Australian team.
🤐🤐🤐#EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/dDGCnj4qNm
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 2, 2023
Now, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has clarified that Bairstow’s dismissal was legal.
“According to law 20.1.2 of the MCC’s Laws of Cricket, “the ball shall be considered to be dead when it is clear to the bowler’s end umpire that the fielding side and both batters at the wicket have ceased to regard it as in play,” ICC stated.
The incident also led to confrontations between a few MCC members at the Lord’s pavilion and the Australian team. As the players walked through the historic Long Room to reach their dressing room during lunch, David Warner and Usman Khawaja engaged in a heated argument with the members who were booing the Aussie team. Stewards intervened to separate them and guide the players away.
Speaking of the second Test at Lord’s, England captain Stokes put on a remarkable show on the final day. Chasing a target of 371, he scored his 13th Test hundred, giving England hopes of equalizing the series. However, after Stokes was dismissed for a brilliant knock of 155, the Australian bowlers quickly wrapped up the remaining wickets, securing a 43-run victory.
With this win, Australia moved closer to retaining the Ashes urn, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-Test series, with three matches remaining.
The third Test is set to begin on July 6 at Headingley in Leeds. England have announced their team for the third test. The hosts will aim to bounce back and keep their hopes alive in the series.
