A ‘run out’ war among gentlemen

Dr Duggaraju Srinivasa Rao

The unusual run out of England player Jonny Bairstow in the second test played at the birthplace of cricket The Lords, in the ongoing Ashes series in the perceived gentlemen game of cricket has led to an all-out war not only among past and present players, but even supposedly neutral umpires drawn in to the war besides heads of governments of Australia and England. The out of the field wars were not unusual as one of the team involved in the present controversy, Australia, are well known aggressive war mongers in and out of cricket field.

The controversial run out of Jonny Biarstow happened on the final day of the test as England was chasing the 300 and odd target in the fourth innings with all the engines being fired the England captain Ben Stokes in the company of Jonny Bairstowe. At the end of a specific over, as Jonny ducked the ball and the ball reached the wicket keeper, the batsman thought he is move out of the crease. Having seen Jonny out of crease the Australian wicket keeper Alex Carey threw the wicket in an underarm throw and appealed for out. In the live play it was very clear the England batter is not stealing the single nor the Australian other members in field are enthusiastic in joining the appeal, barring some one fielding at short leg. If one goes by rule Biarstow may be out but by going by the spirit of the game it is not a fair appeal.  In such a situation the captain of Australia Pat Cummins should have magnanimously spoke to Bairstow, warned him, and withdrew the appeal on behalf of his team.

But, Australian cricket team is not known for their sportsmanship and fair play. For them it is winning that matters and the means of winning never matters. Their worst ways of winning the game was captured on camera where the then captain Smith was found tampering with the ball. They are well known sledgers on the field.  Their intimidating tactics were well recorded in the cricket history. Having such Australian cricket negative heritage it is difficult for the current captain Pat Cummins to exhibit magnanimous behaviour and sportsman spirit. He joined the appeal and the on field umpires referred the appeal to the third umpire Marais Erasmus, who went by the rule book and declared Biarstow out.

This run out incident immediately sparked a war of words. The Lords crowed booed Australian team as ‘cheaters’ and shamed them. Even the MCC members joined them in confronting the Australian players with their appeal. There was a verbal abuse in the great stand and even physical abuse was reported from the gentleman resulting in the suspension of three members of MCC.

While the players of both sides involved in the incidence were seen largely silent the farmer players were found vehement in their comments. Brendon McCullum the former New Zealand cricketer and current head cricket coach of England has said that he will not have beer with the opposition any time soon. The former England player and commentator demanded that Australia should issue a public apology on this kind of cricket they play.

The former Australian players response led by their former captain Mark Taylor is in favour of the run out their current team carried out. Stumping is one of the legitimate way of taking the wicket and Australian wicket keeper Carrey carried out that was Taylors defence. The cricket players are now divided lot and each player is culling out the past incidents to buttress their own supportive arguments. It is a fact that similar appeals were made to claim out but there are equal number of incidents on the field where the captains went by the ‘spirit’ of the game. G.R. Vishwanath, one of the greatest gentleman player, captaining India in 1980 recalled the England batsman, despite him being declared out by the umpire as Indian team thought it was an unfair dismissal. India lost that Bombay test but the spirit exhibited of Vishy and his team is remembered even now. Australians are never known for playing cricket in right spirit. For them it is winning that matters and for that they can take the spirit to any low such as bowling under arm by the instructions of its captain Greg Chappell. The Australian cricket encouraged the winning and not the means of winning so that un-spirited culture of their players go unchecked.

The Australian Umpire Simon Taufel dragged himself into the controversy by taking side of his country’s team despite knowing the un-sportsmanship of exhibited by that team when he himself was in umpiring the matches. His statement that players drag “spirit of cricket when a decision goes against them” is certain to attract comments from other ICC elite panel of umpires. He called England team’s hypocrisy” and the reaction from other men in long coats is awaited.

Simple run out dismissal which should have been ignored is taken up by the heads of the governments of England and Australia and that is the tragedy. It is now no more a cricket game but a war of nations. The British premier Rishi Sunak said that “he simply wouldn’t like to win a game in the manner Australia did”. The Australian PM Anthony Albanese defended his players and slammed the reaction of England PM through his tweets.

Few things are made clear through this run out incident. Cricket is no more gentlemen game more so when barbaric Australians were involved. Spirit of the game was long dead and winning is the ultimate goal for any team. One wish the remaining three test matches in the Ashes series will not be played in highly surcharged atmosphere and right cricket sense will prevail with both teams.