Jonny Bairstow’s controversial dismissal in the sec-ond Ashes Test sent the Lord’s crowd into an un-precedented rage as Australia players were abused by spectators in the famous Pavilion Long Room.
Bairstow was given out when Australia wicket-keeper Alex Carey threw the ball at the stumps after the England batsman walked out of his crease after ducking under a Cameron Green bouncer.
There was confusion in the middle, Bairstow seemingly believing the ball was dead at the end of the over but Australia were happy to proceed with a deeply divisive appeal.
The umpires sent the decision upstairs for review by TV umpire Marais Erasmus, who had no option but to confirm Bairstow’s stumping dismissal.
Bairstow was livid and the usually sedate Lord’s crowd responded by chanting “Same old Aussies always cheating” while booing rang around the fa-mous old arena for several minutes.
England’s Stuart Broad, the batsman who came in after Bairstow’s exit, immediately let his frustrations show as the stump microphone caught him telling Carey: “That’s all you’ll ever be remembered for that.”
Broad also shouted at Australia captain Pat Cummins, ranting: “That’s the worst thing I’ve ever seen in cricket”. The England pace bowler kept up his barrage as he exchanged angry words with Australian fielders and mockingly tapped his bat in his crease after each delivery to ensure he didn’t depart the same way as Bairstow.
A bitter row about the ‘spirit of cricket’ was un-derway, with furious fans chanting “cheats” and England’s players clearly angry Australia did not withdraw their appeal on grounds of fair play.
Members in the Lord’s Pavilion, the most pres-tigious stand in the stadium, confronted the Australia team as they walked through the historic Long Room to get to their dressing room at lunch.—AFP
