Jonny Bairstow Wicket. (Photo Source : Gettyimages)
Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal on Day 5 of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s has been one of the most discussed incidents in cricket recently. In the last ball of the 52nd over, Cameron Green bowled a bouncer that England’s wicketkeeper negotiated with consummate ease. However, thinking that the ball was ‘dead’ in cricket terms, Bairstow stepped out of his crease and started walking towards Ben Stokes at the non-striker’s end. Alex Carey under-armed the ball and hit the stumps to find Bairstow out of his crease. The Aussies were cock-a-hoop as Bairstow was stumped.
However, many deemed that the mode of dismissal didn’t uphold the spirit of the game. England coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes also said that they wouldn’t have resorted to something similar in trying to dismiss a batter.
The English fans were irked after the incident and hurled abuse at the Aussie players as play went on. However, a video has recently surfaced on the internet where Bairstow is seen trying to stump Marnus Labuschagne on Day 3 off the bowling of James Anderson.
The Aussie batter left an outswinger from Anderson, and the ball reached Bairstow, who under-armed it towards the stumps. However, he missed the target.
Thought we had seen this before. Jonny Bairstow attempting to catch Marnus Labuschagne stepping out of his crease two days ago. #Ashes @wwos @9NewsAUS pic.twitter.com/U28fEvlEu8
— Sam Djodan (@samdjodan) July 2, 2023
Australian fans could come back with this video accusing their counterparts of hypocrisy. There is a slight difference between the two incidents, though. In Bairstow’s dismissal, the batter was not attempting to take a run. He left the crease, thinking it to be the end of the over. However, usually, batters do not leave the crease without signalling to the leg umpire or the fielders behind the wicket. Bairstow was seen doing nothing of that sort. As per the law, the ball was still in play, and that is why the umpires decided to rule Bairstow out.
In the case of Labuschagne, the batter was aware that he was playing outside his crease and as soon as Bairstow released the ball, he went back to his crease.