‘Ye sab spirit ka natak 2019 World Cup me karna tha na’ – Fans react as Ben Stokes comments on ‘spirit of the game’ after 2nd Ashes Test

Following Jonny Bairstow’s controversial stumping by Alex Carey in the second Ashes Test at Lords England skipper Ben Stokes insisted he would not have wanted to win a game of cricket with that kind of dismissal. Notably, Australia took 2-0 lead in a five-match series by winning the second Test by 43 runs on the final day.

Shortly ahead of lunch on Day 5 on Sunday, Bairstow, who was England’s one of the last recognised batters, got out after scoring just 10 runs in a most bizarre when he stepped out of the crease after ducking on a bouncer by Cameron Green and Australia’s wicketkeeper Alex Carey under-armed the ball onto the stumps.

Bairstow thought he had secured his ground by tapping two time on the crease but was given out by the umpire. After that, the decision was referred to the third umpire Marais Erasmus who ruled that Bairstwo has been stumped. England were reduced to 193 for 6 chasing a target of 371 runs.

‘When is it justified that the umpires have called over?’ – Ben Stokes

Speaking after the match, Ben Stokes said if he was on the side, wouldn’t have wanted to win the game in that manner.

“When is it justified that the umpires have called over? Is the onfield umpires making movement, is that enough to call over? I’m not sure. Jonny was in his crease then out of his crease. I am not disputing the fact it is out because it is out, Stokes told BBC.

“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. For Australia, it was the match-winning moment. Would I want to win a game in that manner? The answer for me is no,” he further added.

Stokes played a magnificent knock of 155 runs off 214 balls while the hosts were struggling by losing wickets at regular intervals. However, his innings went in vain as they were bowled out for 327 runs and fell short of 43 runs from Australia’s target.

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