The second Test of the Ashes 2023 between Australia and England lived up to the hype, with many memorable and controversial events. By 43 runs, Australia beat England and now has a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. The fifth day of the Test was full of excitement as England Alex Carey, the Australian keeper, got rid of wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow in an unusual way.
Bairstow had just walked out of his stance after avoiding Cameron Green’s bouncer. Carey hit the stumps and asked for a stumping because he had seen the hitter do the same thing before. The ruling was sent to the third umpire, who ruled against him because the ball was still moving when he left the crease. Geoffrey Boycott, a famous English cricket player, didn’t like the controversial decision. He said it went against the “spirit of the game.”
“Cricket is not for people who want to win no matter what. We want people to work hard and play fair, but there are also rules to follow. You shouldn’t follow the rules when batsmen aren’t trying to get an advantage. Just use your common sense. If a batter is trying to get ahead, like in a Mankad situation, that is a different case. “But Jonny wasn’t trying to steal a run,” Boycott was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.
He also said that Australia should apologise for what they did and that it was a shameful thing to do.
Geoffrey Boycott says that Australia needs to apologise in public in a big way.
“Australia needs to think about what they did and apologise to the world in a big way. That will make things right, and then everyone can move on. “These teams have played great cricket with a lot of spirit, so it’s a shame that something like that can ruin it all,” he said.
The cricket community as a whole has different opinions on the issue, and former Australia spinner Brad Hogg has also spoken out against it. The third Test will be played on Thursday, July 6, at Headingley, Leeds, between the two teams. England’s chances of coming back in the series and taking back the Ashes by winning the last three Tests are low.