'Spirit of cricket pushed to the boundary' - Twitter in meltdown after Jonny Bairstow's controversial dismissal

The ongoing second Ashes Test at the Lord's added another controversy to the hard-fought series when Jonny Bairstow was adjudged run out by the third umpire. Bairstow, who carelessly ventured out of the crease to chat with his batting partner at the other end, was deemed run out after Alex Carey struck the stumps with his casual throw. 

England's run chase resumed brightly on the final day as Ben Duckett and Ben Stokes fended the Australian bowlers without much trouble. However, Duckett, who missed out on a century in the first innings, fell prey to another short ball. A well-directed bouncer from Josh Hazlewood took the edge of Duckett's bat, with Aussie wicketkeeper Alex Carey claiming a spectacular catch behind the stumps. 

🤐🤐🤐#EnglandCricket | #Ashes pic.twitter.com/dDGCnj4qNm

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 2, 2023

However, boos rang around the ground after Carey's harmless throw broke the stumps with Jonny Bairstow out of the crease as the visitors started celebrating. Bairstow, who had ventured out of the crease to have a chat with Stokes at the other end, wasn't happy with the third umpire's verdict as England lost their sixth wicket.

Notably, when Carey threw the ball, Bairstow was still in the crease, but the explosive batter had left the crease by the time the ball broke the stumps. Bairstow, clearly riled up by the decision, made the long way back to the pavilion while a vociferous Lord's crowd jeered the actions of the Aussie players. While the Aussies were well within their rights to attempt the dismissal, questions were raised about the 'Spirit of Cricket' after the controversy. 

Bairstow wicket, Not Out. Spirit of cricket pushed to the boundary. Not attempting a run, end of over, scratched crease then walked for the regulation BS chat between overs between batsman. #ashes #ENGvsAUS

— Brad Hogg (@Brad_Hogg) July 2, 2023

Ashes is well & truly ALIVE!

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) July 2, 2023

😅 *scratching my head* #Ashes23

— Mayank Agarwal (@mayankcricket) July 2, 2023

Wow

— Jofra Archer (@JofraArcher) July 2, 2023

Maybe the Bairstow incident will actually mean this England team will stop being so bloody friendly!
- The protests
- The bouncers
- The non-catch by Starc
- The bizarre run out#TheAshes Lords test will forever be the most bizarre and weirdest test match!

— Tom Kelly (@tomkellyonline) July 2, 2023

So again to the Cricket rulebook? @bbctms @philtufnell @MichaelVaughan can you ask if running a man out when the ball is dead is "the biggest load of rubbish I've ever seen. That is a disgrace." or not? @isaguha @AlexHartley93 Ask Glen please? #Bairstow #RunOut #Ashes23 #Cheat

— Nick Parker (@BigParks71) July 2, 2023

First Starc's catch and now Bairstow's stumping...incredible test match 😂😂😂

— Siddharth Khare (@sidkhar) July 2, 2023

Under 9s cricket from Aussies!! If that’s how we are playing… #bairstow

— Richard Summerscales (@summers1908) July 2, 2023

There's a difference between that run out and a mankad. In a mankad, a batter is trying to gain an advantage. There, Bairstow clearly thought that the ball was dead.

That is a horrendous way to get out. He wasn't trying for a run. He should still be there.

— Michael Wagener (@Mykuhl) July 2, 2023

Bit funny for Stuart Broad to be remonstrating with Cummins about "spirit of the game"?

Carey saw Bairstow coming out his crease regularly and took a chance - within the rules - and got a reward.#Ashes23 #ENGvsAUS

— Akhlaq Hanif (@Akhlaq1386) July 2, 2023