England coach McCullum aims "character" jibe at Australia and admits bad blood
Brendon McCullum has advised Australia to protect the "spirit of the game" after England's controversial defeat at Lord's.
The Aussies won the second Ashes Test by 43 runs on Sunday, despite a sensational 155 from England skipper Ben Stokes. Yet the match will be remembered for Jonny Bairstow's questionable dismissal, which gave Australia the chance to bowl at England's tail.
The Yorkshireman was stumped when wicketkeeper Alex Carey threw the ball up to the stumps off the bowling of seamer Cameron Green, leading to an appeal from Australia. But Bairstow was only out of his crease because he assumed the ball was dead.
It was sloppy from Bairstow and the umpires had no choice but to give him out once Australia appealed. Yet it's questionable whether Australia's actions were in the spirit of the game, seeing as Bairstow assumed the ball was dead. McCullum doesn't believe so.
Speaking to BBC Sport about the incident, McCullum said: "I think it was more about the spirit of the game and when you become older and more mature you realise the game and the spirit of it is something you need to protect.
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"You have to make decisions in the moment and they can have affects on games and people's characters. By the letter of the law he is out. Jonny was not trying to take a run and the umpires had called over.
Jonny Bairstow couldn't believe his dismissal (PA)Do you agree with Brendon McCullum? Let us know in the comments below!
"It is one of those difficult ones to swallow and you look at the small margins it is incredibly disappointing. But lots of people will have their opinion on both sides of the fence. But the most disappointing thing is that it will be the most talked about event of a great Test match."
McCullum was also asked whether the incident will have impact on the relations between England and Australia. He replied: "I can't imagine we'll be having a beer any time soon."
It's questionable whether Australia needed to dismiss Bairstow in that manner. England were still 178 runs from victory when the incident unfolded, with the visitors in control of the game. As McCullum said, the stumping overshadowed an enthralling match.
Carey, a man in the middle of a relatively modest international career, will now be remembered by English fans for stumping Bairstow at Lord's. As Stuart Broad, one of the greatest cricketers of all time, told Carey, "You'll forever be remembered for that."
Sunday's result has huge ramifications for the rest of the series. Australia are now 2-0 up after winning at Edgbaston and Lord's, which means England need to win the remaining three Tests at Headingley, Old Trafford and The Oval to regain the Ashes.
Australia are the holders of the Urn after winning the last series 4-0 on home soil. If the series ends in a 2-2 draw, the Aussies - who haven't won in England since 2001 - will retain the Urn. Cummins knows his team are now just one victory away from glory.
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