The fallout from the dramatic Ashes Test at Lord’s between England and Australia continues to make headlines on both sides of the world. While the British press expressed their anger over Australia’s controversial dismissal of Jonny Bairstow, the Australian newspapers didn’t hold back either. However, amidst the heated exchanges, English skipper Ben Stokes managed to keep his sense of humor intact.
Australian newspapers, such as the Herald Sun and the Daily Telegraph, featured front-page headlines and images mocking the English team. The West Australian went a step further by depicting Stokes as an infant in nappies with the title Crybabies. However, Stokes didn’t shy away from responding in a humorous manner. He took to Twitter, saying, That’s definitely not me, since when did I bowl with the new ball.
The fallout from the Lord’s Test match has even reached the political level, with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressing his disapproval of Australia’s tactics. Sunak agreed with Stokes’ statement that he wouldn’t want to win a game in the manner that Australia did. However, he also criticized the abusive behavior of some Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) members towards the Australian players and supported the swift action taken by the MCC to suspend those involved pending an investigation.
Despite the tensions, Sunak has no plans to lodge an official protest with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, as cricket is not considered a core diplomatic issue. Sunak, who is a keen cricket fan himself, praised the performance of Ben Stokes and expressed confidence in England bouncing back from their defeat.
England coach and former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum believes the incident can act as a catalyst for a fightback in the series. McCullum stated that while they would have made a different play, they have to live with Australia’s tactics. He believes the incident has galvanized the English team and expects it to have an effect on the Australians in the upcoming third Test at Headingley.
Former England captain Geoffrey Boycott has called for Australia to apologize for their actions. Boycott believes admitting their mistake and issuing a public apology would make people think better of the Australian team.
In conclusion, the fallout from the Lord’s Test match between England and Australia continues to create controversy and make headlines. The war of words between the two nations shows no signs of abating, with English skipper Ben Stokes responding humorously to Australian newspapers’ mockery. With political figures and former cricketers weighing in on the situation, it remains to be seen how this incident will impact the rest of the Ashes series. Both teams will now shift their focus to the upcoming third Test at Headingley, where emotions are expected to run high.
