Stuart Broad’s peculiar Ashes act sparks ‘spirit of cricket’ uproar

There’s been more controversy in the Ashes after Stuart Broad produced a bizarre moment seconds before Marnus Labuschagne was out.

Cricket fans have hit out at England cricketer Stuart Broad after he was seen playing with the bails before Marnus Labuschagne’s dismissal on day two of the Fifth Test.

In peculiar scenes, Broad walked to the strikers end after the fourth ball of the 43rd over of the Australian innings and swapped the position of the bails.

Labuschagne observed the bizarre move and the players – including Usman Khawaja at the nonstrikers end – appeared to share a laugh.

But the smile was wiped from Labuschagne’s face when he nicked Mark Wood’s very next ball to Joe Root at first slip.

Joe Root takes a screamer to dismiss Marnus Labuschagne off the bowling of Mark Wood. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

As a delighted Broad celebrated by first patting Khawaja on the back and then running into the arms of Root, Labuschagne walked past the umpire mouthing something in a frustrated manner.

Viewers began speculating what he was upset about, given Khawaja had turned down a single earlier in the over which kept Labuschagne on strike.

The Aussie No. 3 also appeared to mutter something about bad light, but the focus quickly turned to Broad when new angles of his disruptive act emerged.

Mind games from Stuart Broad.

The very next ball Labuschagne was dismissed. pic.twitter.com/CXcEFdeCLJ

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) July 28, 2023

“We thought Broad was pleased with himself because Khawaja turned down the run in the beginning of the over. Actually Broad was pleased with himself because of a bit of magic on the bails,” Nasser Hussain said in commentary.

“He flipped the bails over. (Labuschagne) had a smile with Khawaja at the other end, and literally the very next delivery he … nicks it to Root, who takes a brilliant catch.

“Watch Broad’s reaction here. A pat on the back to Khawaja and Stokes is absolutely thrilled as well. Labuschagne less than thrilled.”

Now I’d heard changing the bails is an Aussie thing to attempt to change luck 🍀 I’ve currently not had this confirmed by any Aussie- have I made that up?! 😂 https://t.co/ValXDc2csx

— Stuart Broad (@StuartBroad8) July 28, 2023

Marnus Labuschagne reacts after losing his wicket. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Hussain’s co-commentator Mark Butcher asked his colleague if Broad had acted in the “spirit of the game”.

“I don’t know, settle down Butcher,” Hussain replied. “Don’t even go there.”

“I was surprised that Marnus just sort of stood there and watched him and didn’t do too much about it,” Butcher added.

One fan described the moment as “world class cricket s**thousery” on social media but others believed Broad had overstepped.

“Surely that amounts to unfair tactics or abuse of equipment,” one English fan wrote. “Once again Spirit of Cricket goes out of the window.”

“England have carried on all series about the ‘spirit of cricket’ nonsense,” added another. “But why the heck is Broad touching and swapping the bails? Hypocritical.”

Labuschagne was one of several Aussie batsman to be criticised for failing to find ways to score as he departed for nine off 82 deliveries.

But Australia finished the day with a lead of 12 runs after scrapping its way to 295.