The Ashes 2023 series between England and Australia continues to provide thrilling cricket moments on and off the field. While the on-field action has been intense and captivating, the off-field exchanges have also added to the excitement. Despite a few tense moments, players from both teams insist that there is no bad blood between them.
One such incident occurred during the third Test when Jonny Bairstow gave a cheeky send-off to Steve Smith after dismissing him on Day 2. However, Bairstow received his own dose of revenge when David Warner dismissed him on the fourth day and gave him a similar send-off. As Bairstow walked back to the dressing room, the stump mic captured an Australian player saying, “See ya, Jonny.”
During the same Test, Smith was caught out by Ben Duckett off Moeen Ali after scoring only two runs. As Smith was heading back to the dressing room, Bairstow jokingly said, “See ya, Smudge!”
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This led to a brief exchange between the two players. However, former Australia captain Mark Taylor believes that such exchanges are acceptable as long as they remain within limits and do not cross the line of sportsmanship.
The series opener also witnessed verbal exchanges, with England pacer Ollie Robinson facing criticism for his remarks towards Usman Khawaja after dismissing him at Edgbaston. Another controversial moment occurred at Lord’s when Bairstow was dismissed for leaving the crease assuming the ball was dead. Stuart Broad expressed his disapproval of the incident, considering it the “worst thing” he has witnessed on the cricket field.
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Despite these incidents, there is a general consensus that the teams are getting along well, contrary to what some people back home might perceive. The focus remains on the thrilling cricket being played and the competitiveness between the two sides. As the Ashes series progresses, fans can expect more exhilarating moments and intense battles on the field.
