The contentious dismissal of England wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s has triggered the Spirit of Cricket debate.
Bairstow was dismissed in a bizarre manner on the final day when he wandered out of his crease after ducking a Cameron Green bouncer and Alex Carey stumped him out.
Amid the debate, former Australia cricketer Brad Haddin has said that Bairstow had a brain fade and was not concentrating.
“Bairstow has had a brain fade, as simple as that. He wasn't concentrating. Carey picked it up a couple of balls ago that he was wandering outside his crease and as soon as he got the ball he threw and was lucky to hit the stumps and run Bairstow out. In the letter of the law he is out,” said Haddin while speaking on the Willow Talk Podcast.
Haddin also cited the example of Mitchell Starc's catch being disallowed on the penultimate day of the Lord’s Test to say that both incidents followed the letter of the law.
“Starc was in control of the ball but wasn't in control of his movements when he completed the catch. So if you're going to play the letter of the law for that one, England, and be happy, this one from Bairstow was just a concentration lapse that Carey was smart enough to jump on,” he stated.
Haddin said England are throwing a lot of stuff at the Australian while also adding that it sounds like a bit of sour grapes from the hosts.
“The coach is coming and saying that they won't have beers with the Aussies. Mate, they're 2-0 up. They will be enjoying their own company. Sounds like a bit of sour grapes from England. They're throwing a lot of stuff at the Australians on and off the field in the media and Australia have just trusted their game style,” he remarked.
Coming to the Lord’s Test, Australia won the game by 43 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match Ashes series.
Defending the target of 371 in the final innings, the tourists survived England skipper Ben Stokes’ onslaught (155 off 214) to bundle out the Three Lions for 327.
The third Test will be played at Headingley from July 6.
