Former Australian wicketkeeper Tim Paine has added fuel to the fire by sharing an old video of English wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow waiting for a batter to lift his leg for a possible stumping. This video resurfaced amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding Bairstow’s dismissal in the Lord’s Test, where Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey hit the stumps with an underarm throw as Bairstow moved out of the crease, assuming it was a dead ball. Paine, earlier, criticized England’s use of the spirit of the game as a shield and highlighted the role of the umpires in making decisions within the rules.
The dismissal in the Lord’s Test on Day Five has sparked a divide among cricket enthusiasts, with some supporting the decision and others suggesting that Australia should have withdrawn their appeal. As the drama unfolds, especially following the loss by Ben Stokes-led side, it is expected that the remaining three games of the Ashes 2023 series will be filled with new controversies.
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“It’s funny cricket. I have heard a few people talk about it in the last few weeks, and everyone is guilty of it in cricket. Everyone likes to use the spirit of cricket as a defense when something doesn’t go your way,” commented Paine during an interaction with SEN Breakfast.
“The simple answer is just to play within the laws of the game, isn’t it, and let the umpires do their jobs. It’s pretty predictable. There’s a lot of hypocrisy, that’s for sure, coming out of the English,” he added.
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In the video shared by Tim Paine, Bairstow can be seen defending his actions during a post-match interview. The English player argues that it is a matter of luck, impossible to practice, and well within the rules of the game. As verbal spats continue between both sides off the field, the real action is set to commence on Thursday, July 6, with the start of the third Test at Headingley.
— Tim Paine (@tdpaine36) July 6, 2023
