England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow’s controversial dismissal call hogged the spotlight in Australia's win in the second Ashes Test at Lord's on Sunday (July 2).

Just before the lunch break on the final day, Bairstow got out in a bizarre fashion. He wandered out of his crease after ducking a bouncer from Cameron Green and Alex Carey stumped him out.

While the dismissal once again sparked the Spirit of Cricket debate, former England opener-turned-commentator Michael Atherton has criticised Bairstow while describing his act as "dozy cricket".

"Dozy cricket from Bairstow, and costly cricket," Atherton said, according to Sky Sports.

Former Australia captain Mark Taylor said, "Carey doesn't wait for Bairstow to walk out. He's going to do that regardless. It doesn't look good and people aren't going to be happy about it, but it's the right decision."

Eoin Morgan, who led England to the 2019 World Cup victory, also called Bairstow’s dismissal a fair one.

“[It was] 100% out. I was on comms with Mark Taylor and he called it exactly right. In the balls leading up to his dismissal, this is just complete naivety," Morgan said, according to Sky Sports.

"The ball is not dead at any stage and Jonny Bairstow leaves his crease. He's obviously in his own little bubble, they are bowling short, bowling full, accurate bowling. Testing his defence. But you cannot do this, and it's actually really smart from Alex Carey recognising what is going on. Bairstow's in his own little world, and it's an opportunity to take a wicket," he added.

The rule 20.1.2 of ICC Playing Conditions states: “The ball shall be considered to be dead when it is clear to the bowler’s end umpire that the fielding side and both batsmen at the wicket have ceased to regard it as in play.”

While Carey was well within his rights to break the stumps, England skipper Ben Stokes said he would not have preferred a win with the kind of dismissal that led to Bairstow’s departure.

"When is it justified that the umpires have called over? Is the on-field umpires making movement, is that enough to call over? I'm not sure. Jonny was in his crease then out of his crease. I am not disputing the fact it is out because it is out," Stokes told the BBC after England’s 43-run defeat at Lord’s

He added: "If the shoe was on the other foot I would have put more pressure on the umpires and asked whether they had called over and had a deep think about the whole spirit of the game and would I want to do something like that. For Australia, it was the match-winning moment. Would I want to win a game in that manner? The answer for me is no."

The third Ashes Test will be played at Headingley from July 6.