The Day 5 of second Ashes Test at Lord's turned out to be a roller coaster ride. There was enough drama and action to keep viewers glued to their TV screens on a Sunday evening. Australia ended up winning the Test by 43 runs but they got embroiled in controversy as well. Jonny Bairstow’s stumping by Alex Carey was done by the book but it stirred up controversy and led to heated exchanges on and off-the-field.
The incident took place in the 52nd over of England's run chase. Cameron Green bowled a bouncer and Bairstow ducked beneath it. Bairstow thought the ball was dead and casually walked down the pitch towards skipper Ben Stokes. Carey was quick to throw the ball on to the stumps and stump him out. It led to confusion in the middle but eventually Bairstow had to leave the field.
The stumping had repercussions as Stokes was fuming with anger during his animated conversation with on-field umpires. As Bairstow walked back to the dressing room reluctantly, the crowd chanted, "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, cheat, cheat, cheat".
As Stuart Broad came out to bat at no.8, he did not mince his words. The stump mic caught Broad saying to Carey, "That's all you'll ever be remembered for. That."
The wicket of Bairstow riled up Stokes as he shifted multiple gears and took on Cameron Green hitting him for three sixes and a four in the over. Stokes continued the onslaught but he got out after scoring 155 as England lost the second Test by 43 runs.
As per the laws of the game, “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.”
Former cricketers turned commentators criticised Bairstow's lazy approach. England's Michael Atherton said, "a doozy bit of cricket from Bairstow." On the other hand, former Australian captain Ricky Ponting said “It’s a stumping, not a run-out – enough said. Jonny did the wrong thing and he’s paid with losing his wicket in an Ashes Test match.”
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