NEW DELHI: Former England captain Mike Atherton on Sunday criticised Jonny Bairstow for what he described as "dozy cricket" during the second Ashes Test against Australia at Lord's.
The 52nd over on the final day of the Test saw a controversial moment when Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey dismissed Bairstow with a direct throw.
Bairstow left the final ball of Cameron Green's over alone to the wicketkeeper and started walking outside the crease assuming the ball was dead.
However, an alert Carey realised there was an opportunity to run the batter out and effected a directed hit at the striker's end to catch Bairstow well short.
1/10:Ashes: Australia overcome Stokes scare to win Lord's Test
<p>Read more on TOI Sports<br /></p>Getty Images
2/10:WINNERS
<p>Australia took a stranglehold on the Ashes series after beating England by 43 runs in a fiery and controversial second Test in Lord's on Sunday. <br /></p>Reuters
3/10:2-0 UP
<p>With this win, Australia took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.<br /></p>AP
4/10:MAGNIFICENT STOKES
<p>England captain Ben Stokes hit a stunning 155 after Jonny Bairstow was controversially given out stumped after straying out of his ground on the last day.<br /></p>Getty Images
5/10:FAILED TO CROSS THE LINE
<p>But England were bowled out for 327 chasing a stiff target of 371.<br /></p>Reuters
6/10:SUPER CAPTAIN
<p>Australia captain Pat Cummins led the attack with 3-69.<br /></p>Reuters
7/10:BIZARRE DISMISSAL
<p>Bairstow, the last of England's specialist batsmen, fell in bizarre fashion for 10 when he wandered out of his ground after ducking a Cameron Green bouncer <br /></p>Getty Images
8/10:'ALERT' CAREY
<p>A quick-thinking wicketkeeper Alex Carey under-armed the ball onto the stumps.<br /></p>Getty Images
9/10:BIG WICKET
<p>Bairstow thought he had secured his ground by tapping his bat behind the crease.<br /></p>AP
10/10:ON TO THE NEXT ONE
<p>The third Test at Headingley starts on Thursday. <br /></p>Getty ImagesIn what could be a defining moment in the series, Bairstow was left fuming as the Aussies celebrated around him.
Bairstow appeared to be in a state of uncertainty and eventually walked back to the pavilion after scoring 10 runs off 22 balls, which included two boundaries.
According to law 20.1.2 of the MCC's Laws of Cricket, "the ball shall be considered to be dead when it is clear to the bowler's end umpire that the fielding side and both batters at the wicket have ceased to regard it as in play."
"Dozy cricket from Bairstow, and costly cricket," former England captain Mile Atherton said, according to Sky Sports.
Former Australia captain Mark Taylor said, "Carey doesn't wait for Bairstow to walk out. He's going to do that regardless. It doesn't look good and people aren't going to be happy about it, but it's the right decision."
Eoin Morgan, who helped England win the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, said Bairstow was out.
"I've been here since I was a 13-year-old and I'm looking at playing my whole career here, and I've never seen scenes like that, particularly in the long room never mind all the way around the ground," he said.
"There was a huge sense of frustration but I can't understand why. it's complete naivety around what has happened with Jonny Bairstow's dismissal. [It was] 100% out. I was on comms with Mark Taylor and he called it exactly right. In the balls leading up to his dismissal, this is just complete naivety."
"The ball is not dead at any stage and Jonny Bairstow leaves his crease. He's obviously in his own little bubble, they are bowling short, bowling full, accurate bowling. Testing his defence. But you cannot do this, and it's actually really smart from Alex Carey recognising what is going on. Bairstow's in his own little world, and it's an opportunity to take a wicket," he added, according to Sky Sports.
