Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reacted after UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak accused Pat Cummins and his team of not playing by the rules.
The world is experiencing the magnificence and hatred of England and Australia’s cricket rivalry. The current Ashes series in England has been nothing short of epic. Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith, Ben Stokes, and others have made it tough to look away from the pitch. However, there has been no shortage of hate and taunting between the two sides. But nothing topped Jonny Bairstow’s departure on Day 5 of the Lord’s Test, which Australia eventually won by 43 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Bairstow’s stumping of Alex Carey resurrected the age-old spirit of cricket discussion. It enraged the English supporters to the point where even the members couldn’t stop themselves from criticizing the Australian cricketers at the Long Room. While the MCC took rapid action by suspending three members in response to an official complaint from Cricket Australia, the controversy is far from finished, with both Prime Ministers weighing in with opposing remarks on Bairstow’s dismissal.
In an official statement issued through a spokeswoman, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak backed the England squad and criticized the Australian players for not following the spirit of the game. “The prime minister agrees with (England captain) Ben Stokes, who said he simply wouldn’t want to win a game in the manner that Australia did,” a spokeswoman said.
Sunak, on the other hand, had no plans to lodge an official protest with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, reinitiating the significant diplomatic difficulties caused by England’s “Bodyline” tactics in the 1932-33 Ashes Down Under.
Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also chimed in, indirectly criticizing English fans and media for labeling the Aussies as “cheaters.”
“I’m proud of our men’s and women’s cricket teams for winning their first two #Ashes matches against England.” The same old Aussies – always victorious! “Australia is rooting for Alyssa Healy and Pat Cummins and their teams, and we hope to welcome them home victorious,” Albanese tweeted.
Australia has also demonstrated complete dominance in the multi-format Women’s Ashes, defeating England in the one-off Test and the first of three T20Is.
Meanwhile, the men’s squad will play the third Test to clinch the series. It starts on Thursday in Leeds.
disturbing revelations about members’ treatment of Australian cricketers at Lord’s Long Room
Eyewitnesses disclosed alarming details about the members’ behavior inside the Long Room a few days after the incident.
A thrilling battle between bat and ball, edge-of-your-seat dramas, questions about umpiring decisions, controversial dismissals, the spirit of cricket argument, and a war of words – England vs. Australia Ashes 2023 offers everything a cricket blockbuster could want. The first two Tests of the series have been filled with tension, drama, action, twists, and turns. While England and Australia’s performances have blown away cricket fans worldwide, what happened at the Lord’s Long Room during the lunch break on Day 5 of the second Test has shocked many, including some members.
The Australian batters suffered severe abuse from the Lord’s fans shortly after Australia keeper Alex Carey stumped England’s Jonny Bairstow, who assumed the over had been called, and the ball was dead. During the lunch break, the players made their way to the dressing room via the Long Room.
Some members greeted the Australian cricketers with “cheat! cheat!” chants, and something was also said to Australia batsman Usman Khawaja that he did not appreciate, prompting him to confront the members. Several videos of what happened inside the Long Room at the time have become popular recently.
The Australian team also filed an official complaint against the Long Room members, and MCC responded quickly. It denounced the conduct and suspended three members pending an investigation.
Eyewitnesses disclosed alarming facts regarding the members’ behavior a few days after the incident. According to a report in the English daily ‘The Telegraph,’ some members believed the stewards might have taken safeguards long before the Long Room incident occurred.
“They should have foreseen what might happen,” one member said. “If there were committee members available, someone could have gone into the Long Room and said, ‘Look, you probably are irritated by that sneaky dismissal of Bairstow, but please, gentlemen, act with decorum when the players come off.'”
And could that have been enough to win the day? “I think so,” the member said, adding, “I was shocked.” I believe we have always been respectful and fair to both sides. Being a club member is an honor, and we all know how to conduct ourselves. It was highly startling.”
One MCC insider even mentioned seeing other members welcome young women entering the pavilion with the question, “Is your boyfriend with you?” “The key word is entitlement,” the lawmaker stated. Some believe they have the right to do anything they want without being challenged. Given what had happened on the field and the booing in the stands, there’d be a few more stewards in the Long Room.
The Australian newspaper ‘The Age’ said that some eyewitnesses were “disgusted” and “shocked” by some of the profanity used at all Australian players in the Long Room, particularly Khawaja.
(For more latest cricket news visit IPLWIN)
