Pat Cummins explains why infamous abuse of Aussie cricketers at Lord’s after Ashes stumping scandal was a ‘great thing’ for cricket
- Pat Cummins was shocked by intensity of crowd abuse at Lord’s
- Followed Jonny Bairstow’s stumping in second Ashes Test
- Cummins admitted some fans were ‘getting pretty heated’
- Skipper also felt the tension added to the sporting theatre
Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins has revealed why he believes the crowd abuse that followed the infamous stumping of Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s during the Ashes series was a ‘great thing’ for the sport.
Speaking on Channel Seven’s Sunrise on Thursday, the 30-year-old reiterated the on-field decision from the umpire was correct – but admitted he was shocked by the behaviour of irate MCC members at the home of cricket.
‘It certainly was a fair old tantrum,’ Cummins told co-hosts Matt Shirvington and Natalie Barr.
‘I haven’t experienced anything like that before…. but I will say across my career, I’ve seen that type of dismissal at least 20 times … and it is always out.
‘Davey [Warner] and Ussie [Khawaja] went back at a few of the members following some comments, it was getting pretty heated.’
Pat Cummins has revealed why the crowd abuse that followed the infamous stumping of Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s was a ‘great thing’ for the sport (pictured, after winning the first Test at Edgbaston)
Australia’s cricketers responded to ‘cheat’ claims from angry members at Lord’s during the second Test of the Ashes series (pictured middle, Usman Khawaja)
When asked if he responded to the abuse personally, Cummins joked he ‘wasn’t quick-witted enough’ to do so.
‘I got the gossip from the other guys, then we all took a deep breath and looked to stay composed,’ he said.
‘We had a break, and then re-set.’
Cummins disagreed with the suggestion that Alex Carey’s stumping of Bairstow had ‘changed the game’, instead pointing out the massive interest in the series across five pulsating Test matches.
‘I think the great thing was how many people were speaking about cricket … it was the middle of winter [in Australia] and cricket was the main sport for a couple of months,’ the paceman said.
‘So personally, I loved how much people were focusing on Test cricket and loving the contest each day.
‘And also the old [sporting] rivalry between us and them….every Ashes series seems to drop something.’
Bairstow’s dismissal from Alex Carey at Lord’s was controversial – but within the laws of the game
Cummins then added it was essentially job done in England, despite the drawn series.
‘Our aim was to retain the Ashes which we did, but even now I look back and some moments which if they went our way… could have seen a series win as opposed to a draw,’ he said.
‘We also retained the urn over there in 2019, so I am very proud of what we have achieved…. winning away from home is tough.’
Cummins also confirmed he fractured his wrist in the fifth Test at The Oval, but is in no danger of missing the summer on home soil.
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