‘Ek Ashes ground ke bahar bhi chl raha hai’ – Fans react as Ben Stokes hits back at Australian newspaper’s ‘Crybabies’ headline

Media is never short of stories and talking points whenever England and Australia, cricket’s oldest rivals, go head to head. After a controversial final day of the second Test in Ashes 2023, it was the English media that drew the first blood, tearing down on the Australian team for not withholding the spirit of the game. A day later, it was the Australian counterpart’s turn to slam England for ‘whinging’ too much.

An Australian newspaper called the English team “Crybabies” depicting the England captain Ben Stokes in nappies and sucking on a pacifier. “Poms take whingeing to a new level with ‘cheating’ drivel,” said ‘The West Australian’ after England head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Stokes lectured Australia on cricket spirit following Bairstow’s controversial dismissal. However, Stokes didn’t hold back and tweeted a witty reply. “That’s definitely not me; since when did I bowl with the new ball”, he wrote.

England captain Ben Stokes has been on fire both on and off the field. His thoughts on Jonny Bairstow’s stumping on Day 5 of the second Ashes Test in relation to the spirit of cricket argument may divide opinion, but there is no doubt that his freak innings while chasing the target was one of the best in recent times, nearly taking England over the line at Lord’s.

“I would have said no”, Ben Stokes slams Australia over Bairstow’s dismissal

After losing the game, England skipper Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum slammed Australia over the spirit of the game. “By the letter of the law, he is out. Jonny was not trying to take a run, and the umpires had called it over. ‘ It is one of those difficult ones to swallow. You look at the small margins; it is incredibly disappointing”, said Stokes.

“When is it justified that umpires have called Over?’ Does the square-leg umpire’s movement justify that? Jonny Bairstow was in his crease and then came out to have a chat in the middle. I’m not disputing that it was out; it was. If the shoe was on the other foot, I would have put more pressure on the umpires and asked whether they had called over and had a deep think about the whole spirit of the game, and would I want to do something like that”, he further added.

Here is how fans react to Ben Stokes’ Comments: