The debate surrounding the so-called spirit of cricket has made it all the way to 10 Downing Street, with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak weighing in on the latest Ashes debacle.
Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal – described by former captain Alastair Cook as ‘dopey’ – at the hands of Alex Carey’s quick thinking has lit a fuse under England.
Incumbent England captain Ben Stokes and his teammates have lashed the move, despite being well within the laws of the game.
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Laws, it seems, should be forgotten in the interest of the “spirit” of cricket, in the eyes of England’s cricket team.
That’s a sentiment echoed by the prime minister, who parroted Stokes’ claims that he wouldn’t have done the same, nor would he have wanted to win in that fashion.
“The Prime Minister agrees with Ben Stokes,” a spokesman for the prime minister said.
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“He said he simply wouldn’t want to win a game in the manner Australia did.
“The game did provide an opportunity to see Ben Stokes at his best and it was an incredible Test match and he has confidence England will bounce back at Headingley.”
Albeit not in direct response to Sunak, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese took to Twitter on Tuesday to laud the efforts of the national sides, men and women.
“I’m proud of our men’s and women’s cricket teams, who have both won their opening two Ashes matches against England, he wrote.
“Same old Aussies – always winning!
Australia is right behind Alysa Healy, Pat Cummins and their teams and look forward to welcoming them home victorious .”
The third Test between Australia and England takes place at Headingley on Thursday.
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