Stump mic picks up perfect Ashes sledge as Jonny Bairstow sent packing

An Aussie star has been heard enjoying a perfect moment of revenge served cold during the wild final day of the Third Test.

Between them there have been more sledges than runs, but you can’t say Jonny Bairstow and David Warner haven’t been entertaining.

The pair appear to have been involved in another moment of friction between the two Ashes camps during the wild final day of the Third Test.

Stump microphones picked up a perfect sledge fired in from the Aussie side while they celebrated the wicket of Bairstow after the keeper chopped on a delivery from Mitchell Starc.

In a case of revenge being served cold, an Australian player was heard saying: “See ya, Jonny” as the Aussies ran in from everywhere to celebrate with Starc as Bairstow made his way back to the Headingley pavilion.

The player has reportedly been identified as the Aussie opening batter.

The verbal barb is of course a reference to the send off Bairstow gave Steve Smith after the Aussie was dismissed during the Aussie’s second innings.

Bairstow should have been keeping his mouth tightly shut after dropping yet another catch just a couple of overs earlier, but couldn’t resist giving Smith a gobful after he hit a catch to midwicket.

Australia celebrates Jonny Bairstow's wicket.

“From what we’re told Jonny Bairstow said ‘see ya later, Smudge’ or something like that, which Steve Smith did not enjoy,” former England skipper Nasser Hussain revealed in commentary. “Just being friendly, us Poms. See you later!”

Smith certainly didn’t enjoy it, turning angrily and appearing to say back to Bairstow: “Hey! What was that?”

Bairstow then appeared to reply: “I said ‘cheers, see you later’.”

On Sunday night it was Australia’s turn to return the favour.

The fiery nature of the send off was not lost on Aussie cricket great Mel Jones as she called the action for Sky Sports.

“When he walked out there was not a word said to him, but no surprises when he left there was a little, ‘See ya Jonny’,” she said.

Despite yet another prickly moment, former Aussie Test captain Mark Taylor said he gets the sense there is not as much bad blood between the teams as it appears from the outside.

Onya way son. Photo by Ashley Allen/Getty Images.

“That’s all OK provided it’s kept under wraps and is just one or two words here and there,” Taylor told Wide World of Sports.

“I think generally the sides are getting on much better than a lot of people back at home are making out.

“Jonny would have expected it when he got out in the run chase that he would get a little jibe or two.”

It shows the fighting spirit of Warner and Bairstow that they are out there continuing to sledge despite their struggles this series.

There have been calls for Bairstow to be dumped for the Fourth Test because of his poor work behind the stumps — including an ugly moment on Day 3 when he pulled out of a catch.

Mitchell Starc was bowling fire. Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP.

Bairstow has scored just one half century this series, averaging 23.5 runs per innings.

The drums have been beating for Australia to look at dumping Warner also because of his struggles at the top of the order — particularly when facing nemesis Stuart Broad.

Warner has scored just one half century, also averaging 23.5 runs per innings.

Pat Cummins on Monday morning sparked speculation Warner’s head may be on the chopping block when he responded to a question about keeping Mitchell Marsh in the side at Warner’s expense by saying: “You keep all options open”.

What made the response even more telling was how Cummins replied when asked if it was possible Marsh could be dropped for the returning Cameron Green. “It’s possible but it was a pretty impressive week, wasn’t it?” he said.

It’s possible both Warner and Bairstow won’t be there when the Fourth Test begins on July 19.