Australia Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has backed the country’s Test teams as the men face controversy over the stumping of England wicketkeeper, Jonny Bairstow.
Australia’s wicketkeeper Alex Carey rolled the ball at the wickets, dismissing Bairstow who appeared to believe the ball was not in play on the final day of the second Ashes test.
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The dismissal was deemed legal, sending the wicketkeeper off in Australia’s win at Lords.
Mr Albanese said he was “proud” of both the men’s and women’s teams efforts in England.
“I’m proud of our men’s and women’s cricket teams, who have both won their opening two Ashes matches against England. Same old Aussies – always winning!”
“Australia is right behind [Alyssa Healy], [Pat Cummins] and their teams and look forward to welcoming them home victorious.”
Mr Albanese’s comments comes after UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak weighed in on the controversial stumping.
“The PM agrees with Ben Stokes (England captain). He said he simply wouldn’t want to win a game in the manner Australia did,” a spokesperson for Mr Sunak said.
Stokes said after the match he wouldn’t have wanted to win the game had his side done so in a similar way.
Australia has defended Bairstow’s dismissal, adamant Bairstow himself had thrown the ball back to the stumps in the same Test.
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