By Malcolm Conn
Australia’s cricket coach Andrew McDonald has revealed how his team had hatched a plan to dismiss England batsman Jonny Bairstow as they had noticed him leaving his crease before his controversial departure at Lord’s.
In the aftermath of one of the most bitter days of Ashes cricket, McDonald said the scheme had been discussed by captain Pat Cummins and wicketkeeper Alex Carey a few balls before Bairstow was stumped during the final day’s play in the second Test.
Following the final ball of a Cameron Green over, Bairstow left his crease and the keeper threw down the stumps before umpires had called the ball dead.
“There’s no doubt when a player is leaving their crease or leaving their ground at certain periods of time that you take that opportunity,” McDonald said. “I think Pat relayed that in the after-match that there was some conversation around Jonny leaving the crease and Alex Carey took that opportunity and the ball’s still live in our minds.
“It got sent upstairs [to the third umpire to adjudicate] and ultimately, the officiating third umpire decides it’s out, it’s within the laws of the game. So yeah, I don’t see too many issues with it, to be perfectly honest.”
McDonald said the Australians would have no qualms about repeating the act if the opportunity arose.
Jonny Bairstow leaves the field after his controversial stumping on day five.Credit: Getty
“It’s with every player. It’s like when a player is running down the wicket to [spinner] Nathan Lyon, does he take the opportunity to fire a ball down leg side because he’s leaving his crease?” McDonald said.
“There’s no doubt about that. You see a run-out opportunity at point, you throw at the bowler’s end.
“So yeah, I think any time that a player leaves their ground, you take that opportunity ... But any of these events are always going to polarise opinion.”
The Australian players were the target of heckling by the Marylebone Cricket Club members when they walked through the Long Room during the lunch break.
Australians Usman Khawaja and David Warner both remonstrated with fans about abusive comments that had been directed at the players.
Khawaja can be seen pointing to two fans and saying to a Lord’s steward: “Make sure you get him kicked out specifically. Him and him.”
England coach Brendon McCullum and England captain Ben Stokes, who made a magnificent 155, both questioned the spirit in which Australia played the game. McCullum said: “I can’t imagine we’ll be having a beer with them any time soon.”
In response, McDonald said: “I haven’t spoken to him. I’ve heard that comment for the first time, and I’m somewhat disappointed by that.”
The MCC’s Laws of Cricket 20.1.2 state: “The ball shall be considered to be dead when it is clear to the bowler’s end umpire that the fielding side and both batters at the wicket have ceased to regard it as in play.”
Former England white-ball and Test captains Eoin Morgan and Andrew Strauss agreed with the decision.
“There was a huge sense of frustration [in the crowd] but I can’t understand why. It’s complete naivety around Bairstow’s dismissal,” Morgan said on Sky Sports.
“The ball is not dead at any stage when Bairstow leaves his crease. He was obviously in his own little bubble – and you cannot do that.
“It’s actually really smart from Carey, recognising what is going on – Bairstow living in his own little world – and seeing an opportunity to take a wicket. I don’t see it compromising the spirit of the game.”
Strauss supported Morgan’s summary.
“Australia are the villains, as far as England fans are concerned – especially Cummins and his decision not to withdraw that appeal of Bairstow,” Strauss said.
“Cummins will get plenty of stick for the rest of the series, I would’ve thought, off the back of that.
“You could argue that it was against the spirit of cricket. In truth, I think there was absolutely nothing wrong with it but, of course, the crowd will see it through English patriotic eyes.
“Bairstow was being dozy going outside of his crease. I was pretty comfortable with what Australia did.”
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