Watch: Jonny Bairstow made his feelings clear early in his first innings following his controversial stumping by Alex Carey, pointedly placing his bat in its ground and keeping it there for an extended period, staring at the Australia fielders as they ran past him.

Bairstow’s dismissal was the flashpoint on the final day of the Lord’s Test. After ducking under the last delivery of a Cameron Green over, he left his crease in the belief that the ball was dead. Unbeknownst to him, Carey, the Australia wicketkeeper, had thrown the ball at his stumps, catching Bairstow out of his ground.

Bairstow looked bemused as Australia celebrated, with a review confirming he was out. The moment has ignited a furore, with Australia’s players abused by members of the MCC as they walked through the Long Room, Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, England’s captain and head coach, suggesting it was against the spirit of the game, and the political leaders of the two countries each voicing their support for their respective team’s positions.

There was much focus on Bairstow as the caravan moved to Headingley, his home ground, for the third Ashes Test. The crowd booed the Australians involved in the dismissal, especially Carey and touring captain Pat Cummins, and when Bairstow came to the crease, he had his own response ready.

He inside-edged his second delivery, bowled by Mitchell Marsh, into his pad, and stepped out of his crease as he did so. After taking a moment to ascertain the location of the ball, he returned to his ground and placed his bat deliberately inside the crease, fixing his eyes on the Australians at slip. He kept his eyes locked on David Warner as he jogged past him.

“Bairstow just waits and waits to leave his crease,” said Simon Mann on BBC Test Match Special commentary. “The crowd like that. He’s still waiting! Pantomime action there.”

Watch Jonny Bairstow regain his ground below:

🤐#BBCCricket #Ashes pic.twitter.com/2islePgCTU

— Test Match Special (@bbctms) July 6, 2023

Once bitten, twice shy 😅

Jonny Bairstow stays well inside the crease only to let the Australians know about it after his unusual dismissal at Lords 🫢#SonySportsNetwork #ENGvAUS #Ashes2023 #RivalsForever pic.twitter.com/mfWqOOBC9w

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) July 7, 2023

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