Ashes 2023: Alex Carey breaks silence on ‘nasty’ abuse, Jonny Bairstow stumping and haircut saga

From Jonny Bairstow’s stumping to fake accusations of bailing on a haircut, Alex Carey has become Ashes enemy No.1 for England. DANIEL CHERNY finds out how the heat has affected the Aussie wicketkeeper.

Alex Carey says some of the reaction to his controversial stumping was “nasty” while revealing that he was dismissed the same way early in his career.

Breaking his silence on the dismissal of England’s Jonny Bairstow that divided the cricket world and then some, Carey also confirmed that he would do the same thing again if the opportunity arose, and that he had received a personal apology from Sir Alastair Cook over the bizarre Leeds haircut scandal.

Until day five of the second Test at Lord’s, Carey had been about as inoffensive an Australian Test cricketer as there was. Then the wicketkeeper capitalised on a napping Bairstow to help win the match for his side, quickly becoming a primary villain to the English public.

While the entire Australian side was abused during distasteful scenes in the Lord’s pavilion that day, Carey has continued to be targeted, copping rounds of boos and taunting chants during the third Test at Headingley.

Alex Carey celebrates his run out with Pat Cummins. Picture: Stu Forster/Getty Images.

Speaking in Manchester ahead of the fourth Test beginning on Wednesday, Carey said he felt the reaction to the stumping – which ascended to Prime Ministerial level – had unsurprisingly been divided along partisan lines.

“There’s some nasty stuff being said but like we said, it is the Ashes. There was nasty stuff said before that as well. So yeah, I feel really well supported. I think the whole group does and yeah, from Australia. I still think we’ve got lots of fans and from England. I don’t think we’ve made any but we probably didn’t lose any,” Carey said.

“We got some pretty instant feedback. It‘s one of those things where a stumping that’s given out on field is turned into a massive story. I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion and absolutely respect that. And then everyone’s entitled to their opinion on the spirit of cricket as well.

“So no personally, the support that I‘ve been given here amongst the group and not just myself, I guess the whole group’s had some stuff spoken about them. But we’re really tight. We understand I guess, what’s important and who matters and those guys definitely have our back.”

Alex Carey runs out Jonny Bairstow in an incident which reached Prime Minsterial levels.

Carey said he saw no issue with the dismissal going against the spirit of cricket, explaining that he had been taught an important lesson about remaining inside the crease when he was a much younger cricketer.

“I‘ve definitely been out to that a few times and I’ve tried to do it in the past as well,” Carey said.

“From my point of view, you know, I wasn’t called on it back in when I’d have tried it about the spirit of cricket and when I was given out and in the same sort of manner. I didn’t question it either.

“My first A-grade game in South Australia, I was out that way. And when I walked off, I was pretty disappointed. Captain came up to me, he said, ‘You‘ll remember to keep your foot behind the line next time.’”

Alex Carey said he has been run out in the same manner he inflicted on Jonny Bairstow. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.

Carey said the Aussie had identified Bairstow’s tendency to wander out of his crease.

“Yeah, we were switched on to the fact that it was a bouncer plan and it felt like Johnny was pretty switched on to getting out the way, he wasn’t playing any shots,” Carey said.

“When he ducked obviously his first movement was pretty much out of his crease so instinctively grabbed the ball, threw the stumps down and the rest is history.

“As soon as I got it, threw it straightaway. And then, I guess once the bail has come off, it’s up to the third umpire to deem it out or not out, or the on-field umpires as well and it was given out and then yeah, I guess to see how much is as played out since then. It’s been a little bit surprising I guess that the both sides of the fence is probably the one isn’t it? If you’re on Australia side, there’s been amazing support. And if you’re an England side, it’s probably the opposite.”

Alex Carey is enjoying a fine Ashes behind the stumps. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images.

Asked if he’d do it again, Carey said: “If there was an opportunity to get a stumping, yeah.”

The gloveman meanwhile gave his perspective on the haircut tale in which former England captain Cook wrongly accused Carey of not paying a Leeds barber.

“I found it I guess a little bit amusing to start off with. Wasn’t sure if it was fake news or not. But yeah, the hair hasn’t been cut since we were down in Chelsea. It’s definitely due for a dream. But no, I’m not that tight. I have been told I’m pretty tight,” Carey said, clearly seeing the lighter side of the situation.

“(Cook) reached out and apologised so it was nice to hear from him.”

Originally published as Ashes 2023: Alex Carey breaks silence on ‘nasty’ abuse, Jonny Bairstow stumping and haircut saga