‘Same old Aussies, always cheating’: Jonny Bairstow stumped in controversial manner

Law 20.1.2 states that: “The ball shall be considered to be dead when it is clear to the bowler’s end umpire that the fielding side and both batters at the wicket have ceased to regard it as in play.” Under the third umpire’s interpretation of the Laws, Erasmus gave Bairstow out stumped.

The wicket off Bairstow was a crucial one in the game. It restricted England to 193-6 in pursuit of the target of 371 runs that they require to win the game and avoid going 2-0 down in the 2023 Ashes.

By Scyld Berry

The Match Officials got it absolutely right, as they did with the Mitchell Starc non-catch on Saturday evening. Jonny Bairstow was out, stumped.

The key point is that the ball is dead only when both sides consider it to be so.

Bairstow clearly thought the ball was dead after he had ducked Cameron Green’s bouncer then tapped his bat back in the crease. But that is only one half of the legal picture.

The Australians, or specifically Alex Carey, did not consider the ball to be dead and the over to be completed. Hence Carey had an underarm shy at the stumps and caught Bairstow wandering out of his ground.

Hundreds of wicketkeepers around the country this weekend will have tried exactly the same thing: to surprise a dopey batsman out of his ground.

And, what is more, it is a tactic which Bairstow himself has often tried when keeping wicket. He would have done exactly the same as Carey did, and will probably try it soon in future.

Caveat emptor! Or let the batsman beware. It is up to him to protect his wicket.