Ashes 2023: "I Don't Have An Issue With The Dismissal" - Ricky Ponting On Jonny Bairstow’s Dismissal

Former Australian cricketer Ricky Ponting recently gave an interview to the International Cricket Council in which he discussed Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal during the Ashes 2023 series. Ponting declared that he did not object to the dismissal and appeared to accept the umpire’s judgment.

On day five of the second Ashes Test, Bairstow was stumped by Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey after leaving his crease to chat with non-striker Ben Stokes after avoiding a bouncer.

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“The actual dismissal itself is fine”- Ricky Ponting

Ricky Ponting, a legend in Australia, is sure that the right choice was made and believes Bairstow erred by leaving his crease, giving Carey the chance to hurl the stumps down from a distance.

“The actual dismissal itself is fine. I don’t have an issue with the dismissal because it wasn’t a dead ball, By the word of the law, there’s no doubt in my mind that it’s out and I think everyone agrees with that and universally agrees with that it’s out,” Ricky Ponting told The ICC Review.

“Jonny is obviously in the wrong…and, the reason I say that is if the wicket-keeper had been standing up to the stumps like we saw Bairstow doing when James Anderson was bowling,…Carey takes the ball, Bairstow just walks out of his crease, and Carey knocks the bails off. Now it’s exactly the same thing, only he’s under-armed the ball from 15 meters away rather than standing over the stumps,” Ricky Ponting added.

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“Whole Spirit of Cricket question is raised again” – Ricky Ponting

Although a lot has changed since Ricky Ponting’s playing days, the former captain of Australia understands how crucial it is that the spirit of cricket is upheld at all levels and that the game’s laws are adhered to.

“The Spirit of Cricket is such a wide sort of ranging opinion and view on the whole game, If we take that Bairstow moment out of this series, you would say that this series has been played with great spirit and everything that has to do with the Spirit of Cricket and I don’t think anyone would disagree with that,” Ricky Ponting told The ICC Review.

“But one thing like this pops up and then this whole Spirit of Cricket question is raised again. I’m absolutely a believer in it because there’s more to it than just that one in-or-out (Bairstow) decision. It’s respecting your opponents, it’s respecting the opposition captain, it’s respecting the umpires and it’s respecting the crowds,” Ricky Ponting added.

The England camp and various experts have expressed their displeasure at Bairstow’s expulsion, but many have backed the events that led to his departure.

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