Pat Cummins was unrepentant about the controversial dismissal of Jonny Bairstow as the Australia captain insisted he would act in identical fashion if presented with a repeat scenario.
Australia moved 2-0 ahead in the Ashes at Lord’s but a 43-run win was overshadowed by Alex Carey throwing down the stumps of Bairstow, who had stepped out of his crease thinking the ball was dead.
The rancour has mushroomed to the extent the Prime Ministers of England and Australia have had their say, with some of the fallout extending to Cummins and whether he could have withdrawn the appeal.
Whether Cummins acted within the oft-quoted ‘spirit of cricket’ has been repeatedly scrutinised – while the spectre of ‘sandpapergate’ five years on from the Cape Town scandal still hangs over Australia.
Asked if he is concerned his integrity has been called into question, Cummins said: “It doesn’t really bother me. I think the way our team have conducted themselves over the last couple of years has been flawless.
“There’s issues that come up every Ashes series where you have the same opinions – English fans think one thing, Australian fans think the opposite.
“I 100 per cent think the spirit of cricket is a real thing. At times there’s nuance to it, and everyone might see it a little bit differently. Which is fine, that’s part of it.
“But absolutely I think it’s one of the beauties of our sport. I think our players were outstanding in that regard. We’ve all moved on. The team did nothing wrong so we’re all comfortable.”
Cummins tersely replied “yep” when asked if he would act the same way if a similar situation unfolded after England head coach Brendon McCullum suggested Australia would come to regret their actions.
When McCullum’s words were put to Cummins, the fast bowler responded: “You’ll have to ask me in the future. At the moment I’m really comfortable with it. Maybe down the track.”
Cummins, who stopped short of revealing his final XI but announced Todd Murphy will replace injured off-spinner Nathan Lyon for the third Test at Headingley starting on Thursday, and his side were barracked by the Lord’s crowd throughout the final day following the Bairstow stumping.
There were unsavoury scenes in the Long Room after several MCC members appeared to confront Australia’s players as they made their way off the field at the lunch interval, prompting security to step in.
It has been reported that Steve Smith’s mother, who is English, left the ground early amid the hostile atmosphere, and Yorkshire have confirmed they are on security alert amid escalating tensions.
Cummins said: “We’re in our partner period here so we’ve got loads of family and kids around. I think there might be an extra eye on them, where they are in the crowd, just to make sure everything’s fine.”
West Indies targeting 400 mark after strong start against Bangladesh
West Indies are targeting a big score as they look to put Bangladesh firmly on the back foot after an impressive showing on day one.
Mikyle Louis plundered 97 and Alick Athanaze scored 90 as West Indies reached stumps on Friday at 250-5.
Justin Greaves (11 not out) and Joshua Da Silva (14 not out) will return to the crease on Saturday and Louis is confident the Windies can push on and stamp their authority on the opening Test.
As reported by the ICC, Louis said: "I think we are in a strong position, and we have Justin and Joshua at the crease now.
"I hope they will have a good partnership, I am hoping for a 400-plus score on this pitch."
Taskin Ahmed (2-46) was Bangladesh's standout bowler on day one, though Mehidy Hasan Miraz (1-47) clinched the vital wicket of Louis.
Reflecting on his innings, after falling just three runs short of his maiden Test century, Louis said: "It was an innings of phases. Initially, there was a little moisture, it was slow and nipping.
"The partnership between myself and Alick was one of substance. He guided me, he is more experienced and he fed me information."
West Indies have won six of their last seven Test series against Bangladesh (L1) including each of their last two.
However, the Windies are winless in their last four Tests at home (D2 L2) after winning three consecutive matches prior to that span, including two wins against Bangladesh; they are looking to avoid losing back-to-back home games for the first time since June 2021.
Inglis hails 'hard to stop' Stoinis after ruthless knock
Josh Inglis lauded "hard to stop" Marcus Stoinis as Australia signed off their T20I series against Pakistan in style, claiming a whitewash.
The hosts raced to a seven-wicket victory with almost nine overs remaining in Monday's third match.
After Australia's bowlers had limited Pakistan to just 117 runs, Stoinis ensured they signed off their final white-ball assignment in style, with his unbeaten 61 doing the damage.
Only twice has he bettered that knock in T20Is – versus New Zealand in 2021 (78) and against Oman at the World Cup earlier this year (67*).
"It's been a great week. We've had a lot of fun as a group," Inglis said. "It's been really nice.
"When Stoinis is going like that, he is really hard to stop. One of those sixes was probably the biggest I've ever seen!"
Stoinis, who was named player of the match, added: "Nice to score some runs on a beautiful wicket but credit to the bowlers who kept the total down.
"Yeah, I actually told [Haris] Rauf that this is the first time any of us got the better of him! No, he's a brilliant bowler, bowled well this series."
During their white-ball tour, Pakistan won the ODI series, their first time doing so in Australia in 22 years, but got whitewashed in the T20Is.
Despite the heavy loss, captain Agha Salman chose to focus on the positive effect the experience will have on their young players.
"I think in the middle overs, we didn't capitalise on the start," he said. "But lots of positives.
"The way Usman [Khan] batted, the way Jahandad [Khan] bowled. These youngsters will come good.
"It's obviously a big achievement winning the ODI series, but we could have done much better in the T20Is."
Salt century gives England winning start to West Indies T20 series
Phil Salt hit a superb century as England drew first blood in their T20 series against West Indies, with a commanding eight-wicket victory at the Kensington Oval.
Salt's unbeaten 103 off 54 balls was the highlight for the tourists, who successfully chased down their target of 183 with 19 balls to spare.
The West Indies endured a difficult start and were reduced to 18-3 and later 117-8, with Saqib Mahmood (4-34) and Adil Rashid (3-32) doing the damage.
However, the hosts managed 65 runs in the last 5.2 overs to finish at 182-8, with Gukadesh Motie knocking 33 off 14 balls along the way.
Salt kick-started England's chase with 50 off just 25 deliveries taking them to 73-1 after six overs, with Will Jacks (17) dismissed with the final ball of the powerplay.
Jos Buttler's first match after four months out lasted just three minutes, as the skipper was caught by Motie for a golden duck.
However, it proved a false dawn for West Indies, with Salt and Jacob Bethall (58 from 36 balls) safely steering England to victory.
Data Debrief: Salt completes hat-trick of hundreds as Bethell makes historic half-century
England put their disappointing ODI series behind them, making history with the highest T20 chase at the Kensington Oval.
Salt was the hero with his third T20I century, all of which have come against West Indies in the past 12 months.
Bethell also made history on Saturday. Aged 21 years and 17 days, he become the youngest England player to score a 50 in a T20I.
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