Australia extended their lead in the ongoing Ashes 2023 series to 2-0 with a 43-run victory over England in the second Test at Lord’s. Despite a valiant effort from skipper Ben Stokes, who scored 155 runs, England’s second innings collapsed for 327 while chasing a target of 371 runs for victory. The final day of the match provided several captivating moments that caught the attention of viewers. Ben Stokes’ impressive knock and Usman Khawaja’s heated argument with MCC members in the Lord’s Long Room were the talking points.
However, it was Jonny Bairstow’s controversial run-out during the first session on Day 5 that sparked a debate among fans and experts. Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal triggered a flurry of discussion on social media, raising questions about the “spirit of cricket.” In the first session, the wicketkeeper-batsman was run out on 10(22). The MCC members, known for their passion for the game, were outraged by the nature of his dismissal.
WATCH – Usman Khawaja Seen In Heated Exchange With MCC Members Inside Lord’s Long Room
The controversy stemmed from Bairstow leaving the final delivery of Cameron Green’s 52nd over, assuming the ball was dead. He moved away from the crease towards his captain at the other end. However, Australian keeper Alex Carey had different plans.
Alex Carey saw Bairstow outside the crease and promptly dislodged the bails, resulting in Bairstow being given run out. The decision to give Bairstow out generated considerable debate and controversy. The ICC later clarified the rationale behind the decision, which led to Indian all-rounder Ravichandran Ashwin sharing his opinion on Twitter. Ashwin responded to a tweet criticizing the “double standards” of those praising Carey’s actions while previously criticizing Ashwin for a similar incident.
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Ravichandran Ashwin tweeted: “We must be clear on one fact. A keeper would not attempt to run out a batter from that far out in a test match unless he or his team had noticed a pattern of the batter leaving his crease after leaving a ball, as Bairstow did. We should appreciate the game awareness of the individual instead of unfairly questioning fair play or the spirit of the game. #Ashes 2023.”.
We must get one fact loud and clear
“The keeper would never have a dip at the stumps from that far out in a test match unless he or his team have noticed a pattern of the batter leaving his crease after leaving a ball like Bairstow did.”
We must applaud the game smarts of… https://t.co/W59CrFZlMa
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) July 2, 2023
