Australian captain Pat Cummins stands by Jonny Bairstow dismissal at Lord’s

Preparing for a vicious crowd for the third Ashes Test, Australian captain Pat Cummins has declared England should be looking at themselves after Lord’s.

Australian captain Pat Cummins remains “surprised” at the fallout from Jonny Bairstow’s controversial dismissal at Lord’s, steadfast in his belief it was out and that England should be concerned about their batter’s “pretty silly” behaviour.

A day out from locking horns with England again in the third Test at Headingley, where Cummins is expecting a “hostile” reception, the Aussie skipper said he was proud of his team’s behaviour amid the furore.

The Australians were abused by members as they walked through the Long Room in the Lord’s pavilion, which led to the suspension of three members, and security has been increased for them and their families in Leeds.

Cummins called the stumping, when Australian keeper Alex Carey threw down the stumps after Bairstow left his crease early, a “pretty common, non-event” occurrence that didn’t demand the fallout that has ensued and turned the blowtorch on the home team’s response.

“For what I think is a pretty common, non-event it does seem like everyone has a pretty strong opinion about it,” Cummins said at Headingley.

“I‘m a bit surprised about how big it’s been but that’s the Ashes, the littlest thing tends to be a moment where everyone likes to show their patriotism.

Alex Carey stumps Jonny Bairstow at Lord's. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

“I don‘t think a conversation about the spirit of cricket even comes into a dismissal like that. It was plain and simple a stumping.

“Everyone that has played cricket and knows cricket, you just see it as that, end of story. I don’t think there’s any discussion, it’s out.

“If the shoe was on the other foot, I wouldn‘t be looking at the opposition, I’d probably be looking at our own batter and would be thinking it’s pretty silly.”

Cummins was loathe to talk about England’s behaviour in the aftermath, which has included newspaper columns form veteran seamer Stuart Broad questioning the character of the Australians and local captain Ben Stokes declaring he wouldn’t want to win a game “like that”.

But with a series-sealing win available to his team in Leeds, Cummins said the Australians were laser focused on continuing to play and behave in the manner that had earnt then a 2-0 series lead.

“I know what our team does, and that is we concentrate on ourselves,” he said.

“When we haven‘t been playing up to scratch, we look pretty deeply at what we are doing and try to make amends.

“We don‘t apportion blame to conditions or opposition or anything else going on.

“I’m really proud of how our boys have conducted themselves this tour, especially on that day five (at Lord’s).

There could be tension between the two skippers at Headingley. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

“I thought the way they maintained respect for the opposition, the umpires, and the crowd, their dignity was first class.

“We‘ve had an amazing tour so far, there’s so much that this group should be really proud of.

“I think when we look forward to this game (at Headingley), that will be the message I’ll be giving.

“That’s where our thoughts will be placed, as opposed to this outside noise that has nothing to do with cricket.”

Cummins also said he had “no problems” with England coach Brendon McCullum, who said the teams “wouldn’t be having a beer any time soon” in the wake of the events at Lord’s.

“I’ve got no problems at all with ’Baz’ (McCullum),” Cummins said.

“I know how much he loves a beer, so that was surprising.”