Jonny Bairstow was made to regret his cheeky dig at Ashes rival Steve Smith after being dismissed at Headingley on Sunday.
England won the third Test by three wickets to keep their hopes of regaining the Ashes alive. Australia are 2-1 up in the series after winning at Edgbaston and Lord's, meaning Ben Stokes and his players must win at Old Trafford and The Oval to lift the famous urn.
Bairstow said "see ya Smudge" to Smith after the latter was dismissed during Australia's second innings. Yet the Aussies took great joy in saying "see ya Jonny" after the England wicketkeeper-batter was dismissed cheaply for 5 during England's successful run chase.
Bairstow has scored just one half-century in the ongoing Ashes series, leaving his place in England's starting XI in doubt. Many fans are calling for Ben Foakes, who was harshly dropped on the eve of the series, to be recalled for the final two Tests.
Bairstow was sent on his way by the Aussies after chopping onto his stumps off the rapid bowling of Mitchell Starc. It was a huge wicket at the time, as it left England 171-6 and still needing 80 runs for victory. A defeat would've ended England's Ashes hopes.
Yet a superb innings of 75 from Harry Book got the hosts close to the target before Chris Woakes and Mark Wood carried them over the line. Despite England's victory, there are serious question marks over whether Bairstow should be their wicketkeeper.
Bairstow made 78 in the first innings of the Edgbaston Test but has since struggled at the crease. The Yorkshireman's last five scores of 20, 16, 10, 12 and 5 are well below his usual high standards. And he's kept poorly, dropping five catches and missing one stumping.
Bairstow was also embroiled in a controversial stumping at Lord's. He walked out of his crease while presuming the ball was dead, only for Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey to stump him from distance. Bairstow should've been more alert to the danger.
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Foakes is widely regarded as England's best wicketkeeper and has played a big role in England's new era under coach Brendon McCullum and captain Stokes. He was dropped to make room for Bairstow, the more established star, rather than a lack of form.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain claimed Foakes is "looming in the background" in his most recent column for the Daily Mail. He argued: "It will be tricky because Bairstow has been pivotal to this side for the last 14 months, yet he now looks to be lacking confidence with the gloves and that has transferred into his batting.
"He seems a bit tense and when a batsman gets like that the bottom hand can take over. Two balls before dragging on, he escaped a similar fate, and Ben Foakes is looming in the background."
England are yet to name their squad for the fourth Test at Old Trafford. Ollie Pope (shoulder) will not be involved, while Ollie Robinson is a doubt after suffering a back injury at Headingley, with James Anderson and Josh Tongue both pushing for a recall.
