Watch: Jonny Bairstow shellshocked after enduring rarest of rare run-out in 2nd Ashes Test, England crowd livid
No matter the result, he most talked-about and replayed part of the entertaining second Ashes Test will be that bizarre run out of Jonny Bairstow.
The second half of the morning session on Day 5 did witness an absolute carnage from Ben Stokes, who raced away to his Test century to singled-handedly keep England hopes alive and might just pull off a Headingley-like classic on Sunday afternoon at the Lord's, yet the most talked-about and replayed part of the entertaining second Ashes Test will be that bizarre run out of Jonny Bairstow. And even though it was down to a smart piece of glovework from Australia wicketketkeeper Alex Carey, Bairstow's inexplicable act was the essence of the dismissal. (England vs Australia 2nd Ashes Test Day 5 Live Score)
It happened in the 52nd over, moments before Lunch on the final day of the Test match where England are hoping to level the series to 1-1 after Australia's win in Birmingham. Cameron Green dished out a short wide ball of off and Bairstow ducked it and then instantly started walking towards his partner Stokes. Usually a player checks with the wicketkeeper or the player/s in the slip before they walk towards the other end, but Bairstow did none and casually walked out of the crease in a leisurely manner.
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Carey, who was quite aware of the proceedings, under armed the ball towards the stumps from his position and dislodged the bails. There was an instant appeal to follow, Bairstow was left completely shellshocked and befuddled at the sight of it and probably at the possibility of it. A few Australia players surrounded Stokes and Bairstow with some wolrds being exchanged.
TV umpire Marais Erasmus soon had a look at the replays and it was ruled out. According to Law 20, a ball is considered dead when it is “finally settled”, which is “is a matter for the umpire alone to decide.” In fact, umpire Ahsan Raza had not even called it over. Later on Sky Sports commentary, former England captain Mike Atherton revealed a message from former award-winning umpire Simon Taufel who explained that the ball is not considered dead until “both sides disregard that the ball is in play.”
Watch the video here…
Lord's crowd was not at all happy with the decision as they began chanting: "Shame old Aussies, always cheating," and kept roarong loauding to each boundary that Stokes hit following the incident. Meanwhile, new batter Stuart Broad was seen tapping his bat at both ends while looking at the umpire each time and there were a lot of words being exchanged.
