Australia can expect an excited England and an angry crowd in the third Ashes Test at Headingley to begin on Thursday, as the row over Jonny Bairstow’s divisive dismissal from Lord’s continues. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese have even exchanged verbal bouncers over the issue, which began when Bairstow was stunned out by opposing wicketkeeper Alex Carey during what the England batsman thought was an interruption of play.
Bairstow’s departure, in a match Australia won by 43 runs to lead 2–0 in the five-match Ashes despite England captain Ben Stokes’ stunning 155, caused a chorus of boos from a normally placid Lord’s and led to three MCC members being suspended for allegedly abusing visiting players in the pavilion.
To add fuel to the fire, the third Test takes place at Bairstow’s home ground in Yorkshire, with heightened security measures at Headingley – traditionally one of English cricket’s most gritty venues.
Many in the Australian game are baffled by the vehement English reaction to a legitimate dismissal and attempts to link it to their Sandpapergate ball tampering controversy in South Africa five years ago.
But former England captain Mike Atherton said Bairstow had engaged in “dozy cricket” rather than Test world champions Australia abusing the ‘Spirit of Cricket’.
Stokes insisted he would have withdrawn the appeal and Joe Root, his predecessor as England skipper, endorsed that view on Tuesday, saying: “As a team we want to play our cricket in a certain way and leave a certain legacy.”
Asked how Bairstow might react, Root said, recalling England’s chase in the fourth innings of 378 against India when he and his Yorkshire teammate both went unbeaten for centuries: “Go back to Edgbaston last year, someone said something to him – I think it was Virat Kohli – and got the best out of him. Let’s hope it happens again.”
– Taunts ‘no trouble’ for Smith –
Steve Smith, stripped of the Australia captaincy and suspended for a year for his part in the Sandpapergate incident, is now entering his 100th Test after being fined £100 at Lord’s.
Long the target of taunts from English crowds, the star batsman insisted: “It doesn’t bother me.”
“Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I know the person I am, I know how I want to do things. I play my game here and for my country.”
Pat Cummins, a bid to become the first Australian skipper in 22 years to win an Ashes series in England, said the fallout from Bairstow’s sacking could boost tourists as much as the home side.
“Moments like these can really strengthen a team,” he said. “He (Carey) has been fantastic behind the wickets. We’ll look after him.”
Only a team from Australia, inspired by batsman Don Bradman, have come back from 2-0 down to win a Test series to win the 1936/37 Ashes 3-2.
However, the corresponding Headingley Ashes clash four years ago saw Stokes’ stunning unbeaten hundred lead England to a remarkable one wicket victory and coach Brendon McCullum said: “We believe we can still come back in this run.”
But for all the fear over Bairstow’s departure, England’s poor position is due more to their inability to exploit favorable bowling conditions after winning the toss at Lord’s and a first innings collapse from 188-1 to 325 with several reckless shots.
Veteran England spearhead James Anderson, Test cricket’s most successful pace bowler, has taken just three wickets in the first two games at an expensive 75.33 apiece.
His place could be under threat, with England able to reshuffle their side after batsman Ollie Pope suffered a shoulder injury at Lord’s.
Harry Brook could now be promoted to No. 3 in Pope’s place, with spinner Moeen Ali recalled after missing the second Test due to a finger injury.
Meanwhile, speedy Mark Wood and all-rounder Chris Woakes could be included at the expense of Anderson, 41 later this month, and Josh Tongue.
Australia are on the verge of making just the one forced change, with Todd Murphy replacing Nathan Lyon following his fellow off spinner’s calf injury that ended his tour at Lord’s.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by DailyExpertNews staff and is being published from a syndicated feed.)
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