England’s campaign in The Ashes 2023 got off to a rocky start as they suffered another defeat in the second Test against Australia. After a narrow loss in the first Test, England failed to bounce back and lost the second Test by 43 runs, leaving them trailing in the series. However, one incident that caught everyone’s attention was the controversial dismissal of English wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow.

During the 52nd over of England’s second innings, Bairstow left a delivery from Cameron Green and momentarily stepped out of his crease. Seizing the opportunity, Australia’s Alex Carey quickly threw the ball at the stumps, resulting in Bairstow’s dismissal. England, chasing a target of 371 runs to win the Test, fell short despite impressive performances by Ben Duckett and Ben Stokes.

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The dismissal sparked controversy, with many questioning whether it was in line with the spirit of the game. Some argued that Australia should have withdrawn their appeal. Interestingly, a tweet from the veteran journalist highlighting the fans’ double standards regarding similar incidents involving Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin resurfaced.

Sorry to bang on about this but I do love the game.. To my friend @ashwinravi99 and all those who believe that Johnny Bairstow was fairly OUT .. I have a simple Qs: would you be happy if you were given out in that way? That’s the real test. Do unto others what you would do to… https://t.co/Hrpi0mqFYq

— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) July 4, 2023

In response, Ravichandran Ashwin stated that players should be praised for their alertness rather than criticized for supposedly going against the spirit of the game.

I would be disappointed, very disappointed, in fact gutted with myself for getting out like that🙏 https://t.co/aB8EjoKoiS

— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) July 4, 2023

In response, Ashwin stated that players should be praised for their alertness rather than criticized for supposedly going against the spirit of the game. Ravichandran Ashwin himself took to Twitter to express his thoughts on Bairstow’s dismissal, admitting that he would be extremely disappointed if he were to get out in a similar manner.

The controversial dismissal also had an impact off the field, as the Australian team faced backlash from the Marleybone Cricket Club (MCC) members. As the players walked back to the pavilion for lunch, they were booed by the crowd.

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Australian batsman Usman Khawaja was involved in a verbal altercation with a member in the long room, and David Warner also faced the crowd’s ire. As a result, the MCC suspended a few individuals who had breached player security after the match.

England now finds themselves in a difficult position, trailing in the series and facing mounting challenges both on and off the field. The controversy surrounding Bairstow’s dismissal has added fuel to an already intense Ashes rivalry, further intensifying the pressure on both teams as the series progresses.