Rishi Sunak insists he "wouldn't want to win a game in the manner Australia did" to ramp up the burning Ashes row.
Australia won the second Test match at Lord's on Sunday in controversial circumstances. England batter Jonny Bairstow was stumped from distance after wicketkeeper Alex Carey threw the ball at the stumps off the bowling of seamer Cameron Green.
Bairstow was only out of his crease because he assumed the ball was dead at the end of an over. Australia upheld their appeal and the umpires were left with no choice but to dismiss Bairstow. Many fans believe the Aussies didn't adhere to the spirit of cricket.
Australia went on to win the match and take a 2-0 lead in the series with only three Tests to play. England bowler Stuart Broad was heard saying "that's the worst thing I've seen in cricket", while captain Ben Stokes said he wouldn't want to win in that manner.
Sunak was asked his opinion on the matter. The British PM's official spokesperson said: "The Prime Minister agrees with Ben Stokes, who said he simply wouldn't want to win a game in the manner Australia did.
"That game did provide an opportunity to see Ben Stokes at his best and it was an incredible Test match and he has confidence England will bounce back at Headingley."
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Stokes had told reporters after the Test: "Jonny was in his crease, then out of his crease to come down and have the chat. I am not disputing the fact it is out because it is out. Would I want to win a game in that manner? The answer for me is no."
Bairstow's dismissal was fair, according to the letter of the law, but many fans don't think it was morally right because Bairstow was not trying to play a shot or gain an advantage. Australia could have withdrawn their appeal and let the Yorkshireman continue.
There's also a debate around whether Australia needed to resort to such tactics. England were still 178 runs away from victory when Bairstow was controversially dismissed and in complete control of the game. The incident overshadowed a great Test.
Bairstow was visibly furious with Australia captain Pat Cummins as the team's shook hands after the match. Legendary bowler Broad told Carey, who boasts a modest international record, after the incident: "You'll forever be remembered for that."
Bairstow's wicket allowed Australia to have a crack at England's tail and win the game, despite a heroic 155 from Stokes. England must now win at Headingley, Old Trafford and The Oval to retain the Ashes and end an eight-year wait to hold the Urn.
Australia were booed at Lord's, one of the most tepid cricket grounds in the country, following the incident and are expected to receive a spicy reception at Headingley. Cummins has defended his team's tactics and called Bairstow's dismissal "fair play".
