The controversial dismissal of Jonny Bairstow in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s on Sunday (July 2) sparked the Spirit of Cricket versus Laws of the Game debate.

Bairstow was given out as Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey threw the ball at the stumps when the English batter walked out of his crease after ducking a bouncer from Cameron Green.

The Australians appealed and the decision was referred to the third umpire Marais Erasmus, who did not take much time in giving Bairstow out.

While the decision has divided opinions, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak feels it was not in keeping with the spirit of the game.

"The prime minister agrees with (England captain) Ben Stokes who said he simply wouldn't want to win a game in the manner that Australia did," Sunak's spokesman told reporters.

But Sunak, a keen cricket fan who watched with Prince William from the Lord's pavilion on Saturday, also deplored the Long Room abuse directed at the Australians by Marylebone Cricket Club members.

After the incident, Pat Cummins and his men were booed by the crowd while some Australian players were also confronted by the MCC Members in Lord’s long room.

Sunak, an ardent cricket fan, condemned the abuse directed at the Australians by MCC members.

“He thinks it was right that the MCC have taken swift action to suspend any members accused of poor behaviour," the spokesman said.

Sunak believed that the standing ovation given by MCC members to Australian spinner Nathan Lyon, who came out to bat hobbling after sustaining a calf injury, was "much more in keeping with the spirit of the game".

However, Sunak has no intention of lodging an official protest with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, to reprise the serious diplomatic strains created by England's "Bodyline" strategy in the 1932-33 Ashes Down Under.

“While there is a friendly rivalry over sport between the two leaders, Sunak does not view cricket as a core diplomatic issue,” the spokesman remarked.

"The game did provide an opportunity to see Ben Stokes at his best and it was an incredible Test match -- he has confidence that England will bounce back at Headingley," he added, after Stokes slammed 155 in the final innings at Lord’s.

Coming to the result, Australia won the Lord’s Test by 43 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match Ashes series. The third Test will be held at Headingley from July 6.

(With AFP Inputs)