Rishi Sunak: Australia broke cricket spirit at Lord's

Alex Carey (left) successfully appealed Johnny Barstow's wicket (right) Photo: GETTY IMAGES/Ryan Pearce

Rishi Sunak weighed the Ashes cricket brawl that exploded after Australia stumped Johnny Bairstow in the second Test, claiming their actions were «out of the spirit» of the game.

An exciting last day of play at Lord on Sunday brought fans and players furious when Englishman Bairstow was stumped by Alex Carey, the Australian goalkeeper, when he came out of his crease believing the over was over and therefore the ball was dead.

Australia had the option to withdraw its appeal under the «spirit of cricket», but chose not to do so, and so Bairstow was ruled by the third umpire under the letter of the law.

Ben Stokes, the England captain whose 155 innings failed to save his side from a 43-streak defeat, called the deadlock «the moment of winning the match» and said he would have withdrawn the appeal.

“I needed to seriously think about the spirit of the game. Do I want to potentially win the game when something like this happens? «No,» Stokes said after the game.

Mr Sunak's verdict was echoed by great cricketer Sir Geoffrey Boycott, who said in his Telegraph Sport column that «Australia should think about what they did and make a full public apology», as well as the current England head coach Brandon McCallum.

Johnny Bairstow is out! ❌

A HUGE moment in this test match. pic.twitter.com/CyNn0JUYSI

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 2, 2023

«I guess it will affect [the spirit of the show], I think it should,» McCallum said last night, blaming Australia for ruining relations between the two countries. parties with their demonstration of playing skills.

«In the end, they made a play, they have to live with it, we would do another show, but such is life.»

Asked about the controversy on Monday, a spokesman for Mr Sunak said: “The Prime Minister agrees with Ben Stokes. He said he just didn't want to win the game the way Australia did.

«The game was really an opportunity to see Ben Stokes at his best and it was an incredible test match and he's sure England will recover at Headingley.»

When asked if Mr. Sunak, an avid cricket fan, agreed that the Australian team's handling of the stump at Bairstow was «not in the spirit of cricket», the spokesman replied: » Yeah.

But he added that he was unlikely to raise the issue with his Australian counterpart, Anthony Albanese, and insisted that despite the «friendly rivalry» the British public «would like the Prime Minister to focus on the core issues of British-Australian relations.» «.

Downing Street also weighed in on a separate incident in the Long Room, after which three members of the Marylebone Cricket Club were suspended on charges of verbal abuse and physical contact with players from Australia.

The confrontation came as the teams left the field after Bairstow was sacked.

Should Australia withdraw its appeal over the controversial Johnny Bairstow issue?

A spokesman for Mr. Sunak added, «He thinks it's right that the MCC has taken swift action to suspend any member accused of bad behavior.»

«I think he was there, when Nathan Lyon hobbled to the bat on Saturday he was obviously in a lot of pain and the club gave him a standing ovation and I think he felt it was much more in the spirit of cricket.

MCC apologized 'unconditionally' to the Australian team following the suspension after some players, including Usman Khawaja and David Warner, were caught on video stopping to protest to fans.

During Sunday Guy Lavender, MCC Executive Director and former Lieutenant Colonel of the Parachute Regiment, took the rare step of reaching out to members to remind them to respect the players in the hectic atmosphere at Lord's.

Usman Khawaja was detained by security after talking to one of the participants in the long room

'I have NEVER seen scenes like this!' pic.twitter.com/2RnjiNssfw

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket), July 2, 2023 Special Test Match (TMS).

After the Independent Commission for Fairness in Cricket (ICEC) found that racism, sexism and classism were «widespread» in the game, the prime minister told the program: «I haven't experienced this in cricket, but of course I have. racism. growing up.

“It hurts you like very few other things. I have a job where I accept criticism daily, hourly, every minute. But racism stings you, it really hurts.”

I am proud of our men's and women's cricket teams that have won their first two #Ashes tournaments. matches against England.

Same old Aussies — always win!

Australia is right behind @ahealy77, @patcummins30 and their teams and can't wait to take them home with a win 👏

On Tuesday, Mr Albanese, the Australian Prime Minister and sports fan, said he was «proud» of the Australian «men's and women's cricket teams that have won their Ashes' first two matches against England. «.

He tweeted: «Same old Aussies always winning!» and added: «(I) look forward to welcoming them home with a win.»