Ashes 2023: "Australia Need Make Fulsome Public Apology" - Geoffrey Boycott On Jonny Bairstow's Controversial Dismissal

Published - 03 Jul 2023, 09:38 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:15 AM

Geoff Boycott. (Photo: SkyNews)

Former English skipper Sir Geoffrey Boycott reacted to Jonny Bairstow’s controversial dismissal in the second Test of the Ashes at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London. He said that the Australian team need to make a public apology for the incident.

Jonny Bairstow and Alex Carey – two names that hogged the headlines during the Day 5 of the Lord’s Test. Not for their heroics with the bat but with the controversial runout that triggered the spirit of the game debate.

Jonny Bairstow ducked under the short ball from Cameron Green and without informing the keeper or the slip cordon he left the crease. Alex Carey seized the opportunity to effect the run out and he exactly did that. The keeper batter pulled off a direct hit and the batter was nowhere near the crease.

Also Read: Ashes 2023: “Glovework Was Impeccable” – Mark Taylor Praises Alex Carey For Jonny Bairstow’s Dismissal

As per the rules, it was clear out but many were upset with the Australian team for not upholding the spirit of the game. England skipper Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum too said that had they been in their shoes they would’ve taken a different route.

Geoffrey Boycott highlighted that Jonny Bairstow was not trying to take advantage and Australia should’ve applied common sense. He added that people want to see players play hard and fair cricket. Writing in his column for Daily Telegraph, he said:

“If you want to win at all costs then cricket should not be for you. We want people to play hard and fair but surely there are standards to uphold. When batsmen are not trying to take an advantage then you should not follow the letter of the law. Apply some common sense.

“If a batsman is trying to pinch some ground, as in a Mankad situation, then that is different. But Jonny was not trying to steal a run. Australia need to have a think about what they did and make a fulsome public apology. That way it will redress the situation and everyone can then move on.”

Also Read: Ashes 2023: “They’re Throwing A Lot Of Stuff At The Australians On And Off The Field In The Media” – Brad Haddin Slams Brendon McCullum

Ashes 2023: “Australians need to put their hands up and say “we got it wrong,” says Geoffrey Boycott

Geoffrey Boycott further went on to say that both the teams have played brilliant cricket in the series but things like these spoil the party. He added that Australia need to admit that they did that in the heat of the moment and they need to realize that they got it wrong. He explained:

“These teams have played brilliant cricket in great spirit and it is a shame when something like that happens to spoil it all. Australia have now had time to think about what happened. We all make mistakes in the heat of the moment.

“People will think better of the Australians if they put their hands up and say “we got it wrong”. That is the way to go. Let’s see over the next few days if they are man enough to do that.”

Australia currently lead the series by a margin of 2-0. The third Test match will be played from Thursday (6th July).

Also Read: WATCH – Videos Of Brendon McCullum Effecting Alex Carey-Like Dismissal Does Rounds Following Spirit Of Cricket Debate