England’s defeat at Lord’s in the 2023 Ashes series has further intensified the tension between the two teams, particularly fueled by Jonny Bairstow’s run-out. The incident has drawn comparisons to an aggressive handshake in the IPL between Gautam Gambhir and Virat Kohli.
In the final afternoon of the Lord’s Test match, Bairstow walked out of the crease after avoiding a short delivery from Cameron Green. Wicketkeeper Alex Carey then removed the bails, leading to a spirited debate about the spirit of cricket, despite the dismissal being within the rules.
The dismissal became a major talking point, with England captain Ben Stokes questioning Australia’s intentions, and head coach Brendon McCullum implying that it had damaged the relationship between the two teams.
A viral footage on Sky Cricket’s Twitter account captured the post-match handshake between Bairstow and Australia captain Pat Cummins. As Cummins shook hands with the England players, Bairstow’s look spoke volumes before the two players exchanged a firm handshake.
The commentator in the video commented, Here is that handshake, take a look…if only looks could kill. This handshake brought back memories of the intense handshake between Gambhir and Kohli during the IPL 2023 in April. Gambhir had gestured towards the crowd after the intense handshake, following Lucknow Super Giants’ narrow win against Royal Challengers Bangalore. The two players would later engage in another heated altercation in the second-leg fixture.
Despite England’s reaction, Cummins defended the dismissal, stating that there was nothing wrong with it and that it was a pre-meditated move from the Australian team. He explained that Carey had noticed Bairstow leaving the crease a few balls before the dismissal and immediately threw the ball at the stumps. Cummins praised Carey’s quick thinking and mentioned that Bairstow had done the same thing to other players in the past.
The controversy surrounding Bairstow’s run-out has intensified the already tense atmosphere between England and Australia in the Ashes series. Both teams will need to find a way to maintain a sense of sportsmanship and fair play while competing fiercely on the field.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of upholding the spirit of cricket and the need for players to maintain a respectful demeanor both on and off the field. It also highlights the intense competition and rivalry that exists in cricket, leading to moments of tension and controversy.
As the Ashes series continues, it remains to be seen how both teams will handle the heightened emotions and whether they can put their differences aside for the sake of the game.
