‘Out, end of story’: Pat Cummins, Ricky Ponting dismiss Jonny Bairstow Ashes stumping drama

Pat Cummins says anyone who understands cricket knows Jonny Bairstow was out, and has the full backing of a former captain.

Ricky Ponting with Pat Cummins at Lord’s. Picture: Getty Images

Pat Cummins has firmly rejected allegations he breached the spirit of cricket in the second Test at Lord’s and got the wholehearted support of former captain Ricky Ponting.

Cummins went further, pointedly claiming that when Australia loses they worry about their own failings as England continued to complain about the Jonny Bairstow stumping.

The Australian captain did not dismiss the idea that England is using the controversy as a smoke screen for its failings in the first two Tests but added that Australia was more introspective in defeat.

“Potentially,” he said when asked. “I’ve got no idea. I know what our team does and that’s we concentrate on ourselves.

“When we haven’t been playing up to scratch we look pretty deeply at what we are doing and try to make amends. We don’t apportion blame to conditions or opposition or anything else going on.

“(I’m) really proud of how our boys have conducted themselves this tour especially on that day five. Though the way they maintained respect for the opposition, the umpires, the crowd, their dignity was first-class.”

Speaking to the ICC’s website, Ponting defended Cummins and his actions.

“The two things that separates both of these two captains is that Ben Stokes had about three hours to think about his answer,” Ponting told The ICC Review.

“Pat Cummins had about 10 seconds to think about what he was going to do and whether he was going to uphold it (the appeal) or not.

“It‘s pretty easy for Ben at the end (of the match) to sit down and give that point of view. But he was actually out there as the batting captain of his team. He could have asked there and then in the heat of the battle if he was thinking clearly like he said he was three hours later in post-game.

“If he was thinking enough, he would have said that to the umpires, ‘You know, was it over? Had you started to move? Is the ball dead?’ They were the questions that had to be answered then and not at the end of the game when he said it.”

Cummins said he was surprised by how controversial the incident was but that everybody who played cricket knows Bairstow made a mistake and was out.

“For what I think is a pretty common, non-event it does seem like everyone has a pretty strong opinion about it,” Cummins said. “I’m a bit surprised about how big it‘s been but that’s an Ashes, the littlest thing tend to be a moment where everyone likes to show their patriotism.”

“When you’re captain you’re going to cop some of that. We’ve had huge support over the last couple of days from not only Australia but walking out on the street here in England, (from) other teams. We’re not without support.

“Everyone that has played cricket and knows cricket, you just see it as out, end of story.

“I don’t think there’s any discussion. It’s out. If the shoe was on the other foot, I wouldn’t be looking at the opposition, I’d probably be thinking at our own batter and would be thinking it’s pretty silly.”

Former England captains Michael Atherton, Andrew Strauss, Nasser Hussain and Andrew Strauss have all expressed surprise at the controversy and supported the Australians on the issue.

Ponting said allegations about breaching the spirit of cricket were wrong.

“If we take that Bairstow moment out of this series, you would say that this series has been played with great spirit and everything that has to do with the spirit of cricket and I don‘t think anyone would disagree with that,” he said.

“But one thing like this pops up and then this whole spirit of cricket question is raised again. I’m absolutely a believer in it because there’s more to it than just that one in or out (Bairstow) decision. It’s respecting your opponents, it’s respecting the opposition captain, it’s respecting the umpires and it’s respecting the crowds.”

“I know when I was playing, and the ball had gone through to the keeper, you wouldn’t dare leave your crease until you actually asked the opposition captain if it was OK and if the ball was dead and Jonny hadn’t done that.

“Even to the point now, when you’re asking for gloves or asking for a drink, I think players just do it. They don’t even respect the fielding captain to say, ‘Oh, sorry skipper, is it OK if I go and change my gloves or is it OK if I get a drink’?

“When we start talking about spirit of cricket, it’s not just about in and out dismissals in the spirit of cricket thing.

“It’s about the respect of your opponents and the umpires and everyone around you as well. And I think that’s just died off a little bit.”

Joe Root joined the line of English players claiming they would not have gone through with the Bairstow dismissal as further footage of the wicket keeper dismissing batters in the same way emerged.

Families of the Australian players were among those targeted for abuse at Lord’s on the fifth day and Headingley is renowned as an even more hostile crowd.

Root called on the supporters to back the home side but keep their behaviour in check.

“Support England – that’s the most important thing,” the former England captain said. “You come to support your nation. It doesn’t need to go beyond that, it should never go beyond that. Support your team to the best of your ability – we’ll play to the best of ours. Create that brilliant atmosphere that has been created on this ground on so many previous occasions and we should have a fantastic week.”