Anthony Albanese weighs in on claims Australia cheated in Ashes test

A controversial Ashes win has led to the Australian Prime Minister responding to claims the cricket team trashed the spirit of the game.

Anthony Albanese has weighed into the row over the Jonny Bairstow stumping at Lord’s on Sunday, responding to claims from his British counterpart that Australia had trashed the spirit of the game.

“Same old Aussies – always winning!” the Prime Minister said in a tweet, invoking cries of English fans at Lord’s that Aussies are “always cheating”.

“I’m proud of our men’s and women’s cricket teams, who have both won their opening two Ashes matches against England.”

England were left stunned after Australian wicket keeper Alex Carey stumped Bairstow moments after he walked out of his crease at the end of an over, before the ball had been declared dead.

The dismissal was pivotal in a thrilling end of second Ashes test, helping Australia win the match and putting them up 2-0 in the series.

Avid cricket fan Anthony Albanese has celebrated the controversial win. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum declared post match the controversial decision was not in the spirit of the game. Asked on Monday, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak agreed.

“The prime minister agrees with Ben Stokes who said he simply wouldn’t want to win a game in the manner that Australia did,” the spokesman said.

Asked if he thought Australia had contravened the spirit of cricket, the spokesperson responded: “yes”.

But Mr Sunak would not be raising the matter directly with Mr Albanese.

I’m proud of our men’s and women’s cricket teams, who have both won their opening two #Ashes matches against England.

Same old Aussies – always winning!

Australia is right behind @ahealy77, @patcummins30 and their teams and look forward to welcoming them home victorious 👏

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 3, 2023

“I think the public would want the prime minister to focus on the core issues of the UK-US-Australia relationship,” the spokesperson said.

“Whilst there’s always going to be a friendly rivalry, I think they will be focused on more core issues.”

The British Prime Minister is a keen cricket fan and sat with Prince William to watch on from the Lord’s pavilion on Saturday.

While he denounced Australia’s win, a spokesperson said it was “right” for the Marylebone Cricket Club to take swift action to abuse hurled at the cricket team in the Long Room.

“He thinks it was right that the MCC have taken swift action to suspend any members accused of poor behaviour,” the spokesman said.

The MCC has suspended three of its members and issued an apology to the Australian team.