The Ashes row proves elite sport is a cutthroat affair – the Lord’s chaps should applaud the Aussies

England’s and Australia’s cricketers are elite athletes who must do whatever they can to win within the rules – even if some people don’t like it, writes Adam Hills

Had Bairstow’s throw been accurate and Labuschagne been out of his crease, we can only speculate as to how the English crowd would have reacted (PA )

I normally keep my cricketing opinions to myself, but there was an incident during the most recent Ashes Test that I feel I need to comment upon – and defend.

The incident in question involved the English wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow, and it happened during the Australian Second Innings. With the Australians 170 runs ahead and one wicket down, Bairstow spied an opportunity. He had seemingly noticed that the Aussie batsman Marnus Labuschagne had developed a habit of creeping out his crease after the ball had passed him.

Was Labuschagne trying to gain an advantage? Sneak off for a run? Put one up on the opposition? No. But the rules of the game state that the batsman must remain in his crease until the ball is called dead. Does the batsman decide when the ball is dead? Or the wicketkeeper? Or the surrounding fielders? Once again, no. That is down to the umpire’s discretion.