In a recent chapter of the Ashes test matches between England and Australia, a high-tension finale was overshadowed by a heated controversy – the dismissal of England’s Jonny Bairstow with his wicket video viral
This moment in the game has caused a whirlwind of debate amongst cricket enthusiasts and professionals alike. So, was it an unfortunate lapse of concentration by Bairstow or a cunning exploitation of the rules by Australia’s Alex Carey? Let’s examine the laws of the game to understand the situation better.
Dead ball rule in cricket and rules meaning and why was Jonny Bairstow given out as stumping wicket video goes viral
The thrilling second Ashes Test match was rife with suspense, and it culminated on the fifth day. Not only was the day noteworthy for Ben Stokes’ innings and Australia’s composed performance, but also for the highly contentious stumping of Jonny Bairstow by Alex Carey. Bairstow’s dismissal marked a pivotal point in the game, forcing Stokes into a risk-taking position with the tail. After this strategic run-out, Australia stood just one crucial wicket away from sealing the game.
Thought we had seen this before. Jonny Bairstow attempting to catch Marnus Labuschagne stepping out of his crease two days ago. #Ashes @wwos @9NewsAUS pic.twitter.com/U28fEvlEu8
— Sam Djodan (@samdjodan) July 2, 2023
The circumstances of Bairstow’s dismissal have triggered significant resentment within the English team. Bairstow had believed the over was finished when Carey swiftly threw the ball at the stumps, catching him off guard. Despite the English team’s protest, according to the rulebook, it was a legitimate dismissal—Carey capitalised on Bairstow’s lack of alertness in the game’s critical juncture.
The letter of the law: Unpacking the MCC’s dead ball law
According to the MCC’s dead ball law, the ball is considered ‘dead’ only when it has settled in the hands of the wicket-keeper or the bowler (law 20.1.1.1). In Bairstow’s case, Australia could argue that the ball never ‘settled’ as Carey threw it back at the stumps almost instantly.
The English team could counter-argue that Bairstow considered the ball ‘dead’ once Carey had it, leading to his unwitting dismissal. However, the umpire has the final say on whether the ball is settled (law 20.2). In this case, Bairstow’s presumption left him susceptible to a run-out.
More light on the MCC laws
Further delving into the MCC laws, law 20.1.2 states that the ball is considered ‘dead’ when both the fielding side and the batters have stopped considering it ‘in play.’ As the Australians still regarded the ball ‘in play,’ the umpire had no grounds to declare the ball ‘dead’ or call over.
The fact that the dismissal happened on the last ball of the over also faced objection from the English side. But the rule for calling ‘over’ depends on the declaration of a dead ball on the sixth ball of the over (law 20.3).
A question of legality and spirit
These laws make it clear that Carey did the right thing, which he probably did after noticing Bairstow’s mistake. Even though the ethics of the firing may be questioned, the law comes first, and this shows that Carey made a smart move. Both the umpires on the pitch and the ones on TV managed the situation well.
The firing of Jonny Bairstow has definitely stirred up a lot of debate. But it is a stark warning to every player how important it is to stay focused throughout the game, especially when the stakes are so high.
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