Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Tuesday defended his country’s Ashes cricket team, after Rishi Sunak—his UK counterpart—said a dismissal during the second test was against the spirit of the game.
With England on 193-5 and chasing a mammoth target of 371, Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey underarmed the ball at the stumps after batsman Jonny Bairstow left his crease at the end of an over during the fifth day of the match.
The dismissal triggered long and loud booing from the crowd at Lord’s and saw premiers of both the countries weighing in behind their skippers.
He “simply wouldn’t want to win a game in the manner Australia did,” reported Reuters quoting UK PM Rishi Sunak as saying in BBC report. Sunak further said he completely agree with Ben Stokes, who said that the dismissal of Jonny Bairstow was against the “spirit of cricket.”
“The prime minister agrees with Ben Stokes. He said he simply wouldn’t want to win a game in the manner Australia did,” UK PM spokesperson said in a statement.
After Sunak’s statement, his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese took to Twitter to reiterate his support for the Aussies.
“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.”
England coach Brendon McCullum said Australian cricket team and especially Alex Carey will regret over Jonny Bairstow dismissal. England seamer Stuart Broad has told Carey that “you’ll forever be remembered” for the Bairstow dismissal on day five.
“There’s nothing like loud crowds that bring a team together. He’s one of the guys we’ll get around,” Australian skipper Cummins told reporters before his squad departed London for the third Test in Leeds.
“But these kind of moments can really strengthen a side. I thought ‘Kez’ (Carey) has had another fantastic game, he’s broken some records … he’s been fantastic behind the wickets.
“We’ll look after him.”
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Updated: 04 Jul 2023, 08:04 PM IST
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