The second test match of the Ashes series has sparked the spirit of cricket debate as many English fans and former cricketers felt that the manner in which Jonny Bairstow was dismissed in the second innings of the second test match is unfair.
While both Aussie and English teams and fans are leaving no stone unturned in justifying their stand, one name which is figuring regularly in these debates without having any connection with the Ashes series is of Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
Ashwin is one of the biggest supporters of run-out at the non-strikers end and he made no delay in giving his opinion in this regard.
He tweeted, “We must get one fact loud and clear ‘The keeper would never have a dip at the stumps from that far out in a test match unless he or his team have noticed a pattern of the batter leaving his crease after leaving a ball like Bairstow did.’ We must applaud the game smarts of the individual rather than skewing it towards unfair play or spirit of the game. #Ashes2023”
We must get one fact loud and clear
“The keeper would never have a dip at the stumps from that far out in a test match unless he or his team have noticed a pattern of the batter leaving his crease after leaving a ball like Bairstow did.”
We must applaud the game smarts of… https://t.co/W59CrFZlMa
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) July 2, 2023
Still there were some who kept on dragging Ravichandran Ashwin in the discussion but as we know the Indian spinner, he knows how to handle all the trollers in the best possible manner.
The Indian journalist Rajdeep Sardesai tweeted,
“Sorry to bang on about this but I do love the game.. To my friend @ashwinravi99 and all those who believe that Johnny Bairstow was fairly OUT .. I have a simple Qs: would you be happy if you were given out in that way? That’s the real test. Do unto others what you would do to yourself! #Bairstow”
The Indian spinner was quick to respond with the tweet, “I would be disappointed, very disappointed, in fact gutted with myself for getting out like that”.
I would be disappointed, very disappointed, in fact gutted with myself for getting out like that🙏 https://t.co/aB8EjoKoiS
— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) July 4, 2023
During the second innings of England, Cameron Green bowled a short ball to Jonny Bairstow which was ducked by the latter and the ball went to the wicketkeeper Alex Carey. Jonny walked out of the crease and Alex Carey made no delay in hitting the stumps with the ball. As a result, Jonny Bairstow was given out but English fans could not digest it and they started calling Aussies cheater and many other things during the match. The Australian team won that match by 43 runs and now they are leading by 2-0 in the 5-match Ashes test series.
While whatever happened was within the rules of the game, there are many who feel that it is against the spirit of cricket. What is your take in this regard? Do let us know.