Geoffrey Boycott calls for Australia to issue apology over Jonny Bairstow wicket

03 July 2023 , 13:45

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Geoffrey Boycott calls for Australia to issue apology over Jonny Bairstow wicket

Sir Geoffrey Boycott has never been shy of giving his opinion - and now he's challenged Australia to release a public statement over the already infamous Jonny Bairstow dismissal at Lord's.

Debate has raged from the moment Aussie keeper Alex Carey stumped one of England's key men as he ambled down the wicket to speak with Ben Stokes, seemingly thinking the ball was dead. But with the umpires having not called 'over', the dismissal technically fell within the laws of the game.

Not that the MCC members at the 'Home of Cricket' saw it that way. In extraordinary scenes, the Australian players were heckled as they walked through the long room at lunch, with both Usman Khawaja and David Warner becoming embroiled in verbal exchanges.

And the outspoken Boycott, 82, has now outlined his own disdain. Despite saying he had always respected the tourists for "being fair minded, tough competitors," he argued the action wasn't justified given Bairstow was not trying to seek an advantage.

"If you want to win at all costs then cricket should not be for you," he wrote in the . "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. Jonny was not trying to steal a run."

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Australia have thus far doubled down on their stance, with captain Pat Cummins rejecting the notion he should have withdrawn the appeal. Opposite number Ben Stokes though, claimed he would have behaved differently in the same situation, and Boycott has now called for the Cummins and co to say sorry.

Geoffrey Boycott has hit out at Australia (PA)

HAVE YOUR SAY! Do Australia owe Jonny Bairstow an apology? Comment below.

"Australia need to have a think about what they did and make a fulsome public apology," he added. "That way it will redress the situation and everyone can then move on. 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."

The debate is likely to rage right into the Headingley Test, which gets underway on Thursday. But amid the background noise, more pressingly for England is that following their 43-run defeat, it represents a game they now must win to have any chance of keeping their hopes of regaining the Ashes alive.

Fraser Watson