Australia’s Sportsmanship Questioned As Cricket’s Biggest Series Descends Into Chaos

Never has Lord’s – cricket’s most famous and beloved ground in Westminster, London – been so febrile.

The usually staid historical ground filled with suits and ties – with cricket matches there feeling more akin to posh social settings at ritzy bars – exploded in unprecedented scenes on the fifth day of the second Ashes Test between Australia and England.

Jonny Bairstow was controversially dismissed when Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey threw the ball at the stumps after the England batter walked out of his crease having ducked under a Cameron Green bouncer.

Australia appealed, knowing they had caught Bairstow short of his ground but confusion abounded. Bairstow thought the ball was dead at the end of the over, but was promptly given out following replays as jeers rang around the ground.

Australia were showered with chants of ‘cheats’ – in reference to the team’s infamous sandpaper scandal from 2018 – and the boorish behaviour deteriorated further when Australia were confronted with insults by members in the Lord’s Pavilion, the most exclusive part of the ground.

These genteel surroundings had been turned into something resembling the middle of the Colosseum as these spectators from high society seemingly lost their minds momentarily, baying for Australian blood.

England and their fans can cry foul – and try to reopen old wounds for Australia – but the right decision was made. Bairstow has a knack of being a bit of a sleepy cricketer sometimes and he was asleep at the wheel here.

Australia realized he often wandered out of his crease prematurely and Carey seized on Bairstow’s inattention in what proved to be a pivotal moment in the match.

There have been complaints about Australia not evoking the ‘spirit of cricket’ by recalling Bairstow with England skipper Ben Stokes subsequently saying he would have if he was in that position.

But footage has emerged of Bairstow doing something similar to Carey just two days ago to Australia batter Marnus Labuschagne, while other England players and even coach Brendon McCullum have been caught looking rather hypocritical.

It’s a shame this compelling series is descending into such off-field farce much like the ugly Ashes series in Australia of 2017-18 – just months before the sandpaper scandal.

The Bairstow incident overshadowed Stokes’ amazing century, where he unleashed a frenetic batting assault to almost power England to the unlikeliest of victories – much like his heroics four years ago in Headingley.

His belligerent batting can do what few others can in the world – make Australia’s star-studded bowlers look ragged and their fielders rattled; even the safe hands of Steve Smith dropped a chance with Stokes able to bend the game through his sheer will.

But it wasn’t quite enough with England left to rue an absolutely shoddy batting display on day two to now slip behind 2-0 in the best of five series.

Their predicament has been largely overshadowed by the Bairstow incident, but England will need to regroup quickly with the series – and perhaps their penchant for ‘Bazball’ – slipping away against a disciplined Australia.

The controversial dismissal has probably been a microcosm for the series – Australia are switched on, zeroing in on England’s cavalier approach and exposing their glaring warts.

And while England bicker and make excuses, a calm Australia remain poised for their greatest Test triumph since winning in India in 2004.