'JONNY WILL HATE ME SAYING THIS, BUT...': ROOT ON BAIRSTOW-CAREY ASHES 2023 STUMPING CONTROVERSY

NEW DELHI: Joe Root, England's former captain and current batsman, expressed his unexpected perspective on the unique dismissal of Jonny Bairstow during the 2023 Ashes series against Australia. While acknowledging the legality of the dismissal, Root emphasized the importance of players being more vigilant on the field.

The incident occurred during the second Test of the Ashes series, with England facing a daunting chase of 371 runs. Jonny Bairstow, known for his tenacity, was on 10 runs when the controversial moment took place.

After evading a delivery, Bairstow inadvertently wandered out of his crease, believing the ball to be dead. However, Alex Carey, the Australian wicketkeeper, capitalized on the situation and swiftly stumped Bairstow before he could return to safety.

The dismissal, which occurred on the fourth day, proved to be a turning point in the match. England, requiring 371 runs for victory, was bowled out for 327, resulting in Australia taking a 2-0 lead in the series. The nature of Bairstow's dismissal ignited a controversy that reverberated throughout the cricketing world.

As the Australian team returned to the Long Room for lunch, members of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) expressed their discontent with the incident.

The cricketing community engaged in heated discussions about the 'Spirit of Cricket', with some arguing that Bairstow should have been cautioned before the stumping, while others maintained that the dismissal, although contentious, adhered to the laws of the game.

In the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Board's documentary, 'The Ashes 2023 Our Take', Joe Root openly discusses the event. "Initially I was quite angry, but I think when you are involved in the game it is very difficult to put yourself in the other position. So I would like to say I would have dealt with it differently (than Australia), but I could very easily have done the same thing," IANS quoted Root as saying.

Root's perspective is one of understanding and realism. "Jonny will hate me saying this, but if you stay in your crease you can't get given out can you? At the end of the day it is within the laws of the game. You should be aware as a player," he added.

Root praised the exceptional leadership of captain Ben Stokes, who guided the team through challenging circumstances. Despite the controversial dismissal at Lord's, Stokes' determination and tactical prowess helped England achieve a 2-2 series draw. The team secured decisive victories in the third and fifth Tests, while rain prevented a potential England win in the fourth Test at Manchester.

Root also discussed the broader impact of the Lord's incident on the team's morale. "It deserved more than for us to come out on the wrong end of that (Lord's) result. For England's captain to show us this is how we play our cricket regardless of the situation, regardless of what people might have said in the first innings, how we got dismissed, reckless, careless, no thought behind it. It was a really powerful moment for us as a team and the rest of the series as well," he concluded.

Although Australia retained the coveted Ashes urn by drawing the series, they were unable to secure a series victory in England, a feat they haven't achieved since 2001.