- Australian PM supports cricket team amidst Jonny Bairstow Ashes controversy.
- Australia’s victory prompts PM’s tweet: “Same old Aussies – always winning!”
- Presence of prominent politicians intensifies Australia-England rivalry in Ashes Test series.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has expressed his support for the national cricket team amidst the Jonny Bairstow Ashes controversy.
Australia emerged victorious in the match after the English batsman mistakenly left his position, assuming the over had concluded. While British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak supported the England captain’s assertion that Australia “broke the spirit of cricket” with the contentious wicket, Mr. Albanese affirmed that Australia stands firmly behind its team.
“Same old Aussies – always winning!” the prime minister tweeted, referring to the Australian side’s two consecutive Test wins so far. His phrase also appeared to be a jibe at English fans who chanted “same old Aussies always cheating” after Bairstow was dismissed.
Prominent Australian politicians, including former Prime Minister John Howard, were present at Lord’s Cricket Ground during the match, intensifying the rivalry between Australia and England in the Ashes Test series. Australian team captain Pat Cummins defended the decision to give Bairstow out, stating it was fair and within the rules.
England captain Ben Stokes acknowledged Bairstow’s dismissal but expressed discomfort with winning a match “in that manner.” The contentious Bairstow wicket has sparked a heated debate between the two teams.
Following inappropriate behavior by some England fans at the member’s club in Lord’s, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) apologized and suspended three members in response to complaints from the Australian team.
Additional video footage has surfaced showing Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja, who is of Pakistani heritage and is a practicing Muslim, being targeted with taunts and jeers by English spectators. The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper reported that Khawaja had been subjected to ongoing abuse in the venue, and shared a video capturing Khawaja’s response as he pointed out the hecklers to a security guard.
