Earlier this month, Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey hogged the limelight for his controversial stumping of England batter Jonny Bairstow in the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.
During the 52nd over of England’s second innings, Bairstow ducked a short delivery from Cameron Green and almost instantly left his crease assuming that the ball was dead.
The Australians appealed and the decision was referred to the third umpire Marais Erasmus, who did not take much time to declare Bairstow out.
Following the incident, the English media started treating Carey as a villain citing the Spirit of Cricket argument. The crowd accused Australia of cheating while the tourists were abused in the Long Room by Marylebone Cricket Club members.
Amid the debate, Carey on Saturday (July 15) made it clear that he wouldn’t mind pulling off a similar dismissal if the opportunity arises again in the remainder of the 2023 Ashes.
“I definitely would,” Carey said, while also adding that he has been bemused by the reaction.
“There’s been some nasty stuff been said but it is the Ashes, and there was nasty stuff said before that as well,” he stated. “I feel really well supported, I think the whole group does.
“From our point of view, we’ve all got each other’s backs and we’ve all supported each other. We understand what’s important and who matters.”
The fourth Ashes Test is slated to get underway on July 19 at Old Trafford, and Carey said he wouldn’t hesitate to re-enact the stumping.
Commenting on Bairstow’s stumping, the Aussie glovesman said: “We were switched on to the fact that it was a bouncer plan and it felt like Jonny was pretty switched on to getting out of the way, he wasn’t playing any shots.”
“When he ducked, his first movement was pretty much out of his crease, so instinctively I grabbed the ball, threw the stumps down and the rest is history,” he added.
“Once the bail has come off, it’s up to the third umpire to deem it out or not out, or the on-field umpires . . . and it was given out. To see how much it has played out since then has been a little bit surprising,” he continued.
(With inputs from AP)
