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Head also questioned whether England would have withdrawn their appeal in similar circumstances, after both Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum said they would have.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.”
Stuart B
Roar Rookie
I respectfully disagree, Stuckbetweenindopak. The rules state when the ball is dead, either between balls or at the end of an over. It's not dead because JB decides it's dead or thinks or guesses it's dead. You can see that he doesn't even wait to check if the umpires have called over and doesn't bother looking behind to see if the ball is live.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
If you watch back through the lead-up, Bairstow had repeatedly done this and Khawaja had looked around each time at Carey. I would say everyone in the team knew it was on.
Simoc
Roar Rookie
That is what most annoys those silly Poms. Our players are better and have more class as well. Those silly old fools at Lords show the class of the English peasants. This will be one of the great Australian teams, even better if we win the series.
Michael Coote
Roar Rookie
Crawley, possibly the most overrated Batsman ever. Brook, has been found out by the short ball, will be a walking wicket in Australia. Bairstow, his keeping possibly cost England the first test. Moeen Ali, neither test class as a batsman or Bowler. Broad, everything is out LBW even when hit in the head. Anderson, is a green track bully, who is past his best.
Peter Darrow
Roar Guru
There should be more with your soh Choppy!
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
You need to brush up on your comprehension of sarcasm. Also there’s no need to read more carefully, you tend to just go in circles. It’s been interesting though! Thankfully there’ll be some actual cricket tomorrow. Only 120 posts in two years for such a worldly sporting elite is strange, no9. Oh well, I suppose when there’s cricket on it keeps you editors busy, eh?
The Barry
Roar Guru
So yours and the lords long room lunatics assessment of the circumstances carries more weight than half a dozen former England captains…? My tone’s not hysterical. That’s literally what Robinson said I’m not living as a hermit and I’m not shocked. I’m not preaching that the Aussies are the paragons of the spirit of cricket. You and the English team are trying to pretend the English are Even Robinson’s unprovoked profane tirade gets a “it wasn’t that bad and you started it”. You really think that’s in the spirit of cricket? You’ve got your head in the sand…
The Barry
Roar Guru
You brought up the ball tampering… but of course you only brought up the Australian ball tampering So what about the mints in 2005? The whole English team conspired to tamper with the ball. You keep pointing out all the stuff Australia has done wrong but try to maintain this English spirit of cricket holier than thou attitude… its all window dressing
No9
Roar Rookie
you might enjoy my posts more if you read them carefully and tried to mount a coherent argument in reply if you disagree.
No9
Roar Rookie
Atherton's "dirt in the pocket " offence was what 1994 ? And I'm going back five years ? I don't follow you . I'm not excusing Atherton . It was a rotten thing to do . But each breach of rules , from law to school , is different in a number of ways . That is why jail sentences differ in length . The Australians colluded and conspired to sandpaper the ball. They had a reputation for dodgy behaviour . Were the penalties fair to each party ? You would have to be privy to all the lead evidence to judge. But the many comments I heard in Australia about Sandpapergate were dismal and grim for me because I always hope for a rennaissance in the conduct of the Australian team .
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
'They came to see me bat, not YOU bowl' wasn't directed at anyone? It wasn't personally derisive? You certainly are unique. Your posts have made my day, they are hilarious and driven a lot of comebacks. You editors, certainly have some tricks, all 9 of you!
No9
Roar Rookie
We know the arguments . It was given out but under what circumstances ? It was the circumstances that was the core of the debate . If you think it nonsensical I point out that it made a good deal of sense o the English public and many others around the world . That was the catalyst for a near riot among the MCC members because thay , and I . considered it an appeal that never should have been made and when it was it should have been rescinded . If you think Robinson's send of was shocking , as appears from your near hysterical tone , you must have living as a hermit not to be aware of many Australian send offs. Telling someone to F...off you f..ing pr.. is what you hear in primary school. There is no sexual content about the batsman's wife . No content about whose children , no content about the batsman's sister . Rather mild stuff really . No. I rather think that Robinson was saying : we have suffered abuse in the past . But if you dish it out you cop it in kind. Or , as Australians on the pitch are fond of saying : cop it sweet .
The Barry
Roar Guru
Haha… I specifically mentioned the Starc non-catch. You’re going back five years Australian captain Smith got caught ball tampering. He admitted it and yeah, he broke down with the shame of it. Australia stripped him of the captaincy and banned him for a year England captain Atherton got caught ball tampering and he bald faced lied and denied it until the video footage was shown catching him bang to rights. He reluctantly confessed. England fined him 2,000 quid and thought about taking the captaincy off him, but didn’t. He didn’t miss a single game I know who’s got the moral high ground there…
The Barry
Roar Guru
You’ve proven you don’t know what you’re talking about. I’ll take the word of Butcher, Atherton, Vaughan, Hussein, Morgan, Strauss et al that it was a correct decision over your nonsensical, ever changing, excuse making “F..k off you f..king pr..k”, members abusing and assaulting players, four days of whining about a decision - yeah, it’s Australia winning at the cost of conduct unbecoming
The Barry
Roar Guru
BS… batsman walk forward - usually in limited overs cricket - to throw bowlers off their length. They don’t go shuffling backwards Marnus clearly wasn’t doing either. There’s footage showing him standing with his back foot in his crease and you’re still in denial You blokes can’t get your stories straight It’s not in the spirit of the game. It is in the spirit of the game, just not on the last ball of the over. Marnus was batting in his crease
The Barry
Roar Guru
Yet in this series it’s been the English swearing and giving send offs and complaining unendingly about a correct decision that didn’t go in their favour The Australians faced their own controversial umpire’s call, but accepted the decision and got on with the job of winning the test No sour grapes, no whining to the media. You’ve gotta be pretty spotless if you want to claim the moral high ground and this English group just aren’t Atherton, Butcher, Hussein, Vaughan, Pietersen, Strauss and Morgan (captain Eoin not blowhard Piers) have all said the Australians did nothing wrong but Bairstow did. Yet this modern bunch are looking for any excuse - except the real ones - for being 2-0 down The Australians behaviour has been leagues better than the English in this series ‘Puce-faced snobs’ in the members squealing about bad behaviour while simultaneously swearing at and I physically assaulting the Australian players from their privileged positions The hypocrisy from the English team and supporters like this is pathetic
Shire
Roar Rookie
Thank you for simply typing back what I said, rephrased as questions. Yes, McGrath was the one who initiated the sledging. No, Sarwan did not know about McGrath's wife. McGrath's reaction was unwarranted but understandable given his life circumstances. I'm not trying to excuse it, but people can be weirdly myopic and unempathetic when it comes to this particular incident.
No9
Roar Rookie
yes , I have always taken a good deal of solace and comfort from that principle . It's a good moral rule .
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
At what point do you say, “well, that was within the rules, but morally not a good look, or is there no limit?" At what point? You don't. Morality is transitory, there is no limit. At the same time you're watching a sportsman roll an orb at 3 sticks creating a meltdown of moral indignation on a British patch of grass, in Seattle USA middle age men only in their underwear were twerking in front of children on a public street in a 'pride' march with a legitimate permit to do so! Apparently that was acceptable under the rules set, but might be considered differently in Teheran.
Al
Roar Rookie
McGrath was the catalyst for Sarwan's rebuttal, he was the one who sledged Sarwan regarding Brian Lara's genitalia, all Sarwan replied with was "ask your wife". Did Sarwan even know about McGrath's wife? Should have Sarwan not said anything and allowed the Australian coward to continue his tirade?