'I figured it out!!!! I cracked the Hypocrisy code' - Harsha Bhogle gives unique take on Bairstow-stumping fiasco

Day 5 of the second Ashes Test at Lord's was filled with a lot of drama. England captain Ben Stokes played a mesmerizing knock of 155 off 214 balls to bring back memories of the Headingley Test in 2019. However, Jonny Bairstow getting stumped by Alex Carey off the bowling of Cameron Green hogged the limelight.

In the first session, Green bowled a bouncer to Bairstow and the English wicketkeeper evaded it with ease. The batter began to walk towards his skipper at the non-striker's end, thinking that the ball was no longer in play. However, much to his shock, he heard the dreaded sound of the stumps being broken. Bairstow's opposite number, Alex Carey, under-armed the ball to hit the stumps and found him short of the crease. Umpires deemed the ball was still in play and they ruled the batter out stumped.

This peculiar dismissal gave rise to a lot of debates. Veteran cricket commentator Harsha Bhogle gave a unique take on the incident. Taking to Twitter, Bhogle began by mentioning that the idea was given by his childhood friend. The 61-year-old wrote that people use the 'Laws' of cricket angle when a decision goes in their favour. However, when the decision goes against them, they resort to the 'Spirit' of cricket.

"I figured it out!!!! I cracked the Hypocrisy code You have to invoke the 'Laws' of Cricket when the decision is 'IN your favour' You have to invoke the 'Spirit' of Cricket when the decision is 'NOT in your favour,'" Bhogle tweeted.

What MCC Law says about the rules set for Dead-ball?

Meanwhile, amid the confusion regarding the dismissal of Jonny Bairstow, it is important to glance at what the Laws of Cricket say as established by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). It is important to note that according to law 20.1.2 of the MCC's Laws of Cricket until both the teams in concern call it a seize of play, the ball cannot be ruled as out of play.

"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," the MCC law states.

Australia lead the Ashes 2-0 with three more Tests remaining. It will be interesting to see how England will look to bounce back to stay alive in the series. They will now clash with the Aussies at Headingley in the Third Test on Thursday, July 6.