Lauren Bell and Bairstow. (Photo Source: Dan Mullan/Getty Images and Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
In a recent turn of events, England women’s cricketer Lauren Bell has shown her solidarity with the men’s team in light of the controversial stumping incident involving Jonny Bairstow and Alex Carey during the second Ashes Test at Lord’s. The incident unfolded during the 52nd over when Australia’s wicketkeeper, Carey, stunned Bairstow with a direct throw, catching him off the crease.
Bairstow, who was batting at a score of 10, found himself dumbfounded by the dismissal. The unexpected throw from the wicketkeeper took him by surprise as he had momentarily left the crease after playing the ball. The dismissal received criticism from numerous cricketers who felt that it went against the true spirit of the game.
Simultaneously, the England women’s team is currently engaged in hosting the Ashes T20I series, trailing Australia 1-0 after a defeat in their previous match. In preparation for the second T20I, England’s fast bowler Bell conveyed her team’s disapproval of such playing tactics.
“Personally, it would not be the approach we wish to adopt in our cricket. It has occurred now, and as a team, that is not how we would choose to play,” Bell stated in an interview with Sky Sports.
Bell’s comment comes in the aftermath of a similar contentious moment experienced by England’s women’s team last summer, when Charlie Dean fell victim to a similar kind of dismissal, resulting in a crushing 16-run loss to India in an ODI series. Nonetheless, Bell remains committed to concentrating on the positive aspects of the game rather than dwelling on the negatives.
“There was a different type of emotions there as a result of so many factors around the dismissal of Dean.” It concluded the series as well as how we lost the game. After playing against India in the World Cup, we’ve moved on from that situation, and we have evolved as a team now,” Bell continued.
Bell highlights the different positive areas of women’s cricket and ensures that it is getting the deserved recognition
“Women’s cricket possesses an abundance of merits that deserve attention, and that is what we want to prioritize. We yearn for women’s cricket to be acknowledged for all the remarkable achievements that are occurring,” she passionately expressed.
After losing the first T20 to Australia, Team England will be looking to level the T20 Ashes series as the 2nd match is scheduled at the Oval on Wednesday.