‘Karma always hits back’- Fans react as Pat Cummins replies to Ben Stokes’ comment on Jonny Bairstow’s run-out

Ben Stokes feels he would have reversed the appeal if his team had dismissed a player in the way in which Alex Carey stumped Jonny Bairstow on the last day of a thrilling Lord’s Test. Australia won a tense Test by 43 runs, escaping a Stokes scare along the road, but Bairstow’s dismissal soon before lunch proved crucial.

Bairstow was given out after the third umpire was referred much to the chagrin of supporters and the English team. When asked about the incident, Australia captain Pat Cummins delivered a one-word reaction, referring to England skipper Ben Stokes’ statement that he would have withdrawn the appeal.

For Australia it was the match-winning moment: Ben Stokes

Speaking of the incident, Stokes had said: “When is it justified that the umpires have called over? Is the on-field umpires making movement, is that signifying over? I’m not sure. Jonny was in his crease then out of his crease. I am not disputing the fact it is out because it is out.”

“If the shoe was on the other foot I would have put more pressure on the umpires and asked whether they had called over and had a deep think about the whole spirit of the game and would I want to do something like that. For Australia, it was the match-winning moment. Would I want to win a game in that manner? The answer for me is no.”

Cummins said he thought the Bairstow incident was “fair play”. “That is the rule,” he said. “That is how I saw it.” “You see Jonny does it all the time,” Cummins said. “He did it on day one to Davey Warner. He did it in 2019 to Steve [Smith]. It’s a really common thing for keepers to do if they see about a batter keep leaving their crease. So Kez [Carey], full credit to him. He saw the opportunity. I think Jonny did it a few balls beforehand. Rolled it at the stumps. Jonny left his crease. You leave the rest to the umpires.”

Here’s how fans reacted