Pat Cummins has said he would blame his own batter if an Australian was dismissed in the same fashion as Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s, declaring anyone who has ever played cricket knows the England man was out.
The Bairstow stumping has dominated public discourse in England for the past three days, with the hosts continuing their complaints through the build up to Thursday’s start of the third Ashes Test at Headingley.
It has prompted the biggest diplomatic schism between the two nations on a cricket field since the Bodyline series of the early 1930s, with both prime ministers becoming involved in the war of words.
Cummins and wicketkeeper Alex Carey have borne the brunt of the criticism, with Australia’s captain under attack for not withdrawing his appeal at Lord’s as well as accusations of breaching ‘the spirit of cricket’.
But Cummins is adamant he cannot understand what all the fuss is about, after Bairstow was dismissed after wandering out of his crease.
“Everyone that has played cricket and knows cricket, you just see that as out, end of story,” Cummins said.
“I don’t think there’s any discussion. It’s out.
“A conversation about the spirit of cricket doesn’t even come into a dismissal like that. It was, plain and simple, a stumping.
“If the shoe was on the other foot, I wouldn’t be looking at the opposition, I’d probably be thinking about our own batter and thinking it’s pretty silly.”
The fallout from the Lord’s drama has largely overshadowed the fact England are 2-0 down in the series, with Australia able to win their first Ashes in the country in 22 years with victory at Headingley.
The hosts’ heralded fearless approach has failed in the Ashes, opening the door for Australia in both Tests.
It is not out of the question the hosts are attempting to use the Bairstow stumping to create a sideshow.
“I know what our team does and that’s we concentrate on, ourselves,” Cummins said.
“When we haven’t been playing up to scratch we look pretty deeply at what we are doing and try to make amends.
“We don’t apportion blame to conditions, or opposition, or anything else going on.
“I’ve got no idea (if England are deliberately deflecting attention) but I’m really proud of how our boys have conducted themselves on this tour, especially on that day five.
“The way they maintained respect for the opposition, the umpires, the crowd. Their dignity was first class.”
Australia are bracing for blowback from England fans at Headingley, with investigations continuing into the abuse the team received during lunch at Lord’s on Sunday.
Pat Cummins of Australia and Alex Carey of Australia celebrate the wicket of Jonny Bairstow. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Image
The Leeds ground is renowned for being the most aggressive in the country even in normal circumstances, with England’s Joe Root on Tuesday calling for supporters to remain positive.
Cummins doubts Root’s plea will have much effect.
“I’m expecting the crowd to be pretty hostile but that’d be the case no matter what happened,” Australia’s captain said.
“People pay for their tickets. They can turn up, and whilst I hope I would never go to a sporting event and try to abuse players, some people do.
“I’m sure it’ll be a pretty fiery week from the crowd, but we’re on the field. The crowd really doesn’t affect what we’re trying to do.”
matth
Roar Guru
You are correct, but then Australia isn’t claiming ownership of the Spirit of Cricket and preaching at the opposition
matth
Roar Guru
You might want to see the recent report into English cricket, finding systemic racism
U
Roar Rookie
Why are their players and fans going after Ussie in particular since the first test?
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
For what its worth we have our fair share of them too.
Polymath
Roar Rookie
‘Whingeing Poms’ apparently, yet many Aussies went berserk over Starc’s claimed catch. And they are still carrying on about how Broad once nicked a ball and didn’t walk. Once upon a time then Australian cricket coach Darren Lehmann accused Broad of "blatant cheating" and called on Aussie fans to send the fast bowler home from the return Ashes series in tears! Charming.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yeah that would be pretty bad then. Fans have to understand that players are people, and ganging up on them by group booking etc is really just bullying. Like what happened to Goodes, or to Quade Cooper in NZ. Booing an event is fine, but constant booing every time someone touches the ball, that is going too far. Abuse hurled at family members, like those guys at the SCG who were swearing at or abusing Candace Warner when she was with her kids - that is just not on (with or without kids I mean). The culprit actually hid behind his mates when she went to confront him - shows you how tough he really was.
Brett305
Roar Rookie
This bunch of pompous twits should be roped off 10 meters from the players..abuse a privilege, lose that privilege
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
Actually James ABDV specifically mentioned Aus fans waiting for them back at their hotel then giving them verbal stick…Maybe not that different ? But it was a fairly lighthearted dig by him . In context having walked the Long Room himself he was pretty disbelieving that happened.
Brett305
Roar Rookie
Absolutely chalk and cheese..the buffoons of the long room variety get an opportunity most people don’t..my view is that if you abuse that privilege you lose it, my parents taught me that as a child and it applies to this bunch of self entitled wankers
Johnno
Roar Rookie
Yeah some not good moments, but I was really referring to this team……since 2018
Spud
Roar Rookie
“But fair test match cricket”.Where have you been hiding for the last 50 years?
Al
Roar Rookie
The "racist abuse" is more of an Australian thing, both players (Lehmann) and the crowds all over the country. Cricket brings out the worst in Australians.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
The big 'elephant-in-the-room' issue is Cam Green. This giant 140kph bowler now has to walk through his career with a stumping on his record. How embarrassing for a quick!
jameswm
Roar Guru
It's different being in the same room with spectators compared to abuse hurled over the fence.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Who said the abuse was of that nature? I haven't seen that reported anywhere.
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
” We all know you must stay in your crease ” AB De Villiers .. However he also says tongue in cheek that Aussies got a bit of their own back in the Long Room , referring to the abuse he has copped from fans while touring Australia . Calls it the most hostile place in the World to tour . :shocked: “If you dish it out must be able to take it .”
badmanners
Roar Rookie
I'm looking forward to Bairstow trying to effect the same dismissal on us and once again missing the stumps. :laughing:
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
Class act is our Pat. He's embarrassing nice guys Root and Stokes with his dignified, no-nonsense, rejection of their ridiculous, hypocritical, insanely stupid spirit of cricket claims. As for Broad and McCullum, their reputations as complete flogs unworthy of listening to has been enhanced. History will remember this losing English team as the Pompous Poms.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
Pat Cummins is exactly right. Heaven help Barstool if he tries the same thing against any Aussie batsman for the rest of this series. He's now on a hiding to nothing.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
he said he got hit in the face by the ball when fielding.