Former Australian captain Tim Paine recently stirred up controversy by sharing a video on Twitter featuring Jonny Bairstow in a similar stumping situation.
The video showed Bairstow waiting for the batter to lift his leg after leaving a delivery, allowing him to effect a stumping. This comes after Australia’s contentious stumping of Bairstow during the ongoing Ashes 2023 Test at Lord’s. As it has drawn criticism from the England camp.
In that particular incident, Bairstow was dismissed for 10 when he walked out of his crease immediately after leaving a delivery from Cameron Green. Aussie keeper Alex Carey capitalized on the opportunity, throwing down the stumps to catch Bairstow out of his crease. The England batter had to walk back as the ball was deemed ‘not dead’.
This incident has fueled a war of words between the two teams, with England questioning Australia’s sportsmanship and the visitors defending their actions based on the rules.
Tim Paine shared an old video on Twitter where Bairstow himself was involved in a cheeky stumping
Best vision of the Carey/Bairstow stumping.
Stokes hadn’t even returned to his crease at the non-striker’s end yet.
Lunacy from Bairstow. #Ashes pic.twitter.com/qZVnw27P4p
— James Mottershead (@mottersjames) July 5, 2023
The clip showed Bairstow stumping a batter while representing Yorkshire in 2014. After the batter left the ball alone, Bairstow held the ball near the stumps and quickly removed the bails as soon as the batter lifted his back leg for a brief moment.
Bairstow, in a previous interview, defended his actions, stating that it was simply luck and something that couldn’t be practised. He expressed his delight at successfully executing the stumping and emphasized that it was within the rules of the game.
Paine shared the video of Bairstow’s stumping with four ‘face with tears of joy emojis, further adding fuel to the fire of the ongoing controversy.
Paine, in a separate interaction, criticized the England camp for their extreme reactions to Bairstow’s stumping incident. He accused them of hypocrisy, claiming that everyone in cricket is guilty of using the spirit of cricket as a defence when things don’t go their way.
Paine emphasized the importance of playing within the laws of the game and allowing the umpires to do their jobs. The tensions between the two teams have escalated ahead of the third Ashes 2023 Test, scheduled to take place at Headingley.
The incident has added an extra layer of intensity to the highly anticipated match. As the series continues, it remains to be seen how this controversy will impact the dynamics between England and Australia.
Both teams will have to focus on their performances on the field and let their cricket do the talking. The spotlight will be on the players’ actions and adherence to the rules, with every move scrutinized by fans, pundits, and the cricketing fraternity.
Well, well, well 🧐
“It’s within the rules of the game and that’s how it is!” – Bairstow 2014#Bairstow#Ashes23
Thanks for the heads up @YallopDiana 👏 pic.twitter.com/aNX1KeZIkW
— Andy Lee (@andytomlee) July 4, 2023
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