Joe Root has revealed that he thinks Jonny Bairstow's infamous dismissal in the second innings of the Lord's Ashes Test a year ago was legitimate and within the rules of the game.

One year on from Alex Carey’s controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow that divided cricket fans from around the world, renewed the waning hostilities that define the Ashes, and led to an MCC member's expulsion, former England captain Joe Root has revealed that he "could have very easily have done the same thing," referring to what stands now as perhaps the most infamous stumping in cricket history.

In a three-part documentary series Ashes 2023 | Our Take, released by the ECB yesterday, Root weighed in on Alex Carey's controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow when the England and Yorkshire batter strolled out of his crease after ducking a Cam Green bouncer.

"Initially, I was quite angry, but I think when you're involved in the game, it's very difficult to put yourself in the other position," said Root. "At the end of the day, it's within the Laws of the game. You should be aware as a player. Jonny will hate me saying this, but if you stay in your crease you can't get given out can you?"

Moeen Ali and Stuart Broad also discussed the dismissal in the documentary. Both said that they had noticed that Bairstow had developed a tendency to walk down the pitch "quite early" after the ball had passed him.

Bairstow himself was more reserved in his reflection of the incident. "Who knows whether it was right or wrong, or anything in between," he said.

It will be some time until we get a chance to see whether Bairstow has managed to rid himself of the habit Broad and Moeen allege, as he has been dropped by England for their upcoming three-match Test series against the West Indies that starts next week. Uncapped Surrey wicketkeeper Jamie Smith has been favoured ahead of him and Ben Foakes.

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