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Opinion
Every once in a while, an opportunity comes along in sport for participants to prove they possess a unique courage to be bigger the game.
Pat Cummins, who has enjoyed painting himself and his team with a holier-than-thou image, failed that test on day five at Lord’s.
We all know the incident. Jonny Bairstow had ducked under a bouncer on the last ball of Cameron Green’s over and walked from the crease. Alex Carey took the ball cleanly and threw the stumps down. The third umpire gave Bairstow out stumped and outrage has ensued, including most vividly in the MCC members area as the players left the field for lunch.
Firstly, we don’t need to entertain the thoughts of parochial barrackers. If you are Australian and think it was out or English and think it was not out, then you have no credibility here. Even worse if you are pretending to be unbiased. This of course includes almost all the Australian media and journos on tour – whether they struggle to type with Aussie face-paint dripping onto their fingers is for them to answer.
Those who think it is out are arguing the technical issues. The ball must be seen as dead by batsmen, fielders and umpires, and in this case Alex Carey felt the ball was very much alive. His quick-wittedness and skill were on display, and it is worth pointing out that as a cricketer he is in the form of his life.
Could we argue the technicalities? I think yes. The square leg umpire was already walking in, the controlling umpire had removed Green’s cap and preparing to give it to him, and Bairstow has gone from ducking under the ball to resuming his normal stance, taken a step, made a deliberate move to scuff his crease, and then gone to greet Ben Stokes for a mid-pitch conversation as happens at the end of an over, all around the world at all levels of cricket.
(Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Either way, this is not a technical issue but a moral one. And this is where the lack of moral fibre, among “Ugly Aussie” cricketers and fans alike, becomes apparent. Trevor Chappell’s underarm was within the rules too.
There is a similarity to be drawn to Mankadding here, and it’s that this was much worse. With a Mankad, a batsmen is trying to gain an unfair advantage by leaving his crease early in order to complete a run.
Bairstow was not attempting a run, and everyone on that ground knew it. And they specifically knew it because they felt Bairstow has a habit of leaving his crease early at the competition of a ball. Perhaps a quiet word might have been the order of the day, for this most heinous crime?
Bairstow was not batting out of his crease. He had not over-balanced after playing a shot or danced down the wicket, all instances that would have seen him leave his crease and be mandated to return. No, he had avoided the ball, scuffed his crease, and gone down to do some gardening and have a chat.
Simply, Bairstow had not proven incompetent in the act of playing a cricket shot or seeking any advantage, fair or unfair, at all.
Carey’s actions were fine, and in the heat of battle all was fair to throw down the stumps and appeal. But the Australians, led by Cummins, had a chance to do the right thing, the moral thing, the sporting thing.
The appeal should have been withdrawn when it was clear that Bairstow was not attempting a run. The batsman should have been recalled once given out on a technicality.
There are very few who would have the strength of character to put the game ahead of the contest, but Cummins had always appealed as some who would embody it. Later, having had time to reflect, he doubled down.
(Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
The worst part is that Australia was well in control of the contest anyway, and almost certainly would have won, despite the extraordinary heroics of Ben Stokes.
Cummins had a chance to take a 2-0 Ashes lead AND cement himself as one of the most honourable people that has ever played the game. His legend would have sat alongside John Landy helping the fallen Ron Clarke to his feet and still winning the race.
Instead, this Ashes, which was shaping as one of the greatest, and the spirit of cricket has been tarnished. What an opportunity lost.