Ace Australian speedster Mitchell Starc has given his opinion on the raging debate about England’s Jonny Bairstow’s stumping dismissal on day five of the second Ashes 2023 Test at Lord’s.

The England batter was stumped by Alex Carey after he wandered out of his crease assuming the ball was dead having ducked underneath a short delivery from Cameron Green.

Wicketkeeper Alex Carey hit the bull’s eye to have his English counterpart stumped and the TV umpire gave Bairstow out after watching the replays and that resulted in the crowd booing the Australian teams through the remainder of the morning session on day five.

Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc has said that England batter Jonny Bairstow’s controversial dismissal was as much out as his catch was not out.

He was alluding to his catch to dismiss Ben Duckett on day 4, which was ruled not out after the third umpire felt that Starc was not in complete control as he grounded the ball while completing the catch.

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"Let me put it this way – his (Bairstow's) was as much out as mine was not out. If you're going by the letter of the law, they were the right decisions. We'll leave it in the hands of the officials,” said Starc while speaking to cricket.com.au.

The 33-year-old departed after scoring 10 runs off 22 balls, as England lost their sixth wicket at Lord’s. Despite Ben Stokes’ masterful 155 runs, England fell 43 runs short of the 371-run target and went 0-2 down in the five-Test Ashes.

Defending his catch on day 4, Starc had previously said that he had control of the ball at all times but according to the letter of the law, it was not out.

“At all times, I thought I had control of the ball. There have been plenty of catches in the past that I think have been very similar and been deemed fair, perhaps not being looked at as closely. To the letter of the law, it's not out and we move on,” Starc added.

The two sides will now lock horns at Headingley in Leeds on July 6 for the third match of the series.