From East to West in the cricket world right now, everyone is talking about the Jonny Bairstow controversy. What is this controversy about and how is the cricket world watching it?
On day 5th of the 2nd Ashes Test this incident took place and controversy emerged. Let’s have a look at how this controversy cropped up.
Controversy
On the fifth day of the second test of the Ashes, the partnership between Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes just started looking threatening, when Cameroon Green bowled a usual bouncer and Jonny Bairstow ducked it.
After the duck, the ball went to the Aussie wicket-keeper Alex Carey, Bairstow started a casual walk toward the non-striker end, as the batter does after every delivery and especially when it is the last ball of the over.
Carey saw an opportunity there and decided to target the stumps with the ball, and he nailed it. After that umpires gave Bairstow out, from which the “Jonny Bairstow controversy” started.
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Against the spirit of cricket?- statements
Of course, this controversial act from Alex Carey divided cricket fans into two different sects. One sect says that it’s against the spirit of the game while others believe that as far as it is within the rules, it’s ok.
The first statement about the Jonny Bairstow controversy came from Jonny’s teammate Stuart Broad who just came out to the middle after the incident. Without wasting any time he said to Alex Carey
“That is all you will ever be remembered for”
Carey was silent after the chunk from Broad but he knew that it has been done now and can not be reversed now. This was the statement inside the playing area, outside of it was a whole different story.
Australians supported this act while English supporters gave it a whack everywhere, not just supporters but legendary cricketers as well.
English captain Ben Stokes said
“Jonny was in his crease, then out of his crease to come down and have the chat, I am not disputing the fact it is out because it is out. Would I want to win a game in that manner? The answer for me is no.”
England’s captain said he would not have liked to take a win in such a manner while the Australian captain saw absolutely nothing wrong with it and said
“Bairstow incident was fair play. That is the rule.”
English coach Brandon McCullum said Bairstow believed the umpires had “effectively called over”, which would mean the ball was dead.
The Bairstow controversy didn’t even stop there, even the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom spoke out “Bairstow was dismissal just not cricket”
Conclusion
Whether it was against the spirit of the game within the rules, it has been done now. I do feel that ICC should make things clear about when a ball is declared dead. To make things clear they can add a signal. But can England make this epic dismissal to be a turnover for them in the series?
What do you think of Jonny Bairstow’s Controversy?
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