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Travis Head has accused Jonny Bairstow of blatant hypocrisy, revealing the England wicketkeeper threatened to stump him as he left his crease on the last ball of an over at Edgbaston.
The gulf between Australia and England over the stumping of Bairstow at Lord’s has continued in recent days, with Stuart Broad highly critical of his Ashes rivals in a column.
England’s main issue has been that they believe Bairstow thought the ball was dead at the end of the over when he wandered out of his crease and was stumped by Alex Carey.
But Australia have continued to defend the dismissal, noting that Carey immediately threw the ball after catching it given Bairstow regularly walked out of his crease after deliveries.
The Australians have also pointed to evidence of Bairstow returning the ball at the stumps while keeping, a point contended by captain Ben Stokes earlier this week who argued it was different when done mid-over.
Pat Cummins speaks with Ben Stokes after Jonny Bairstow was given out. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
But Head has now stated that Bairstow threatened to stump him at the end of an over in the first Test in the exact same fashion, and that he immediately raised it with the Englishman amid protests about the dismissal at Lord’s.
“I reminded Jonny last week I walked out of my crease at the end of an over,” Head told the Willow Talk podcast.
“I quickly whipped my bat back and questioned Jonny on whether he would take the stumps and he said, ‘Bloody oath I would’, and ran off.
“I reminded him (of that). Whether he remembered saying that or not. Two days before he also tried to throw Marnus (Labuschagne)’s stumps down too.”
Head also questioned whether England would have withdrawn their appeal in similar circumstances, after both Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum said they would have.
“I know they’ve questioned it differently if they were in the same situation but with all the heat out of the air, saying that is a little bit different than in the moment,” Head said.
“There’s been some in the past when (wicketkeepers) have held the ball and waited for someone to lift a foot.
“This was purely in the same play. It wasn’t sneaky, it was done pretty quickly. It left Alex Carey’s hand straight away.”
Even before Sunday’s incident, Australia’s players were regularly accused of cheating by England crowds in chants belted out by the Barmy Army.
Australia vice-captain Steve Smith is not bothered by the team constantly being labelled as cheats by local fans as further hostilities await at Headingley.
The animosity towards the tourists went into overdrive on day five in London, with players sworn at and labelled cheats as they walked through the Lord’s long room.
Three members have since been suspended, as investigations into the uproar continue.
Australia have continued to defend the dismissal of Bairstow, arguing it was well within the rules to stump the England star when he walked out of his crease after ducking a ball.
But it is unlikely the locals will see it that way at Headingley – where Bairstow is a local favourite – come day one of the crucial third Test on Thursday.
Smith has traditionally borne the brunt of abuse from England fans in recent years, with the Barmy Army repeatedly trying to reopen the scars of the 2018 ball-tampering scandal.
Pat Cummins and Alex Carey celebrate the wicket of Jonny Bairstow. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Image
He is still booed every time he walks out to bat in England, despite Australia leading a largely drama-free existence in the five years since the ‘sandpapergate’ incident in Cape Town.
“It doesn’t bother me,” Smith said ahead of his 100th Test. “Everyone is entitled to their opinion. I know the person I am, I know how I want to go about things.
“I am out here playing my game and for my country. Everyone can say what they like, it doesn’t bother me. I am comfortable in my own skin.”
Smith has spoken of his own challenges following the ball-tampering scandal, including falling out of love with the game while battling an injured elbow during his subsequent year-long ban.
He said he would happily assist captain Pat Cummins through the current furore if needed, after claims from England that Australia had breached the spirit of cricket under the quick’s leadership.
“If he wants to talk about it (I’m here),” Smith said. “He is pretty comfortable in his own skin, he is happy with everything.
“Any of the guys, if anyone wants to talk about anything, I have been through a lot and had the experiences. My door is always open.”
© AAP
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