It’s a year since Jonny Bairstow walked out his crease at Lord’s and was stumped by Alex Carey.Credit:Getty Images
But in England’s “right of reply” documentary about the Ashes,releaseda year to the day since the Bairstow dismissal,Root steps up to say that if Bairstow had not wandered so quickly out of his crease after ducking a Cameron Green bouncer,there would have been no dismissal.
The documentary also shows candid dressing room footage of Bairstow telling the team on the penultimate night of the Lord’s Test that he foresaw an “amazing” turnaround for England to win the game;as opposed to the stumping and furore that followed.
“Initially I was quite angry,but I think when you’re involved in the game it’s very difficult to put yourself in the other position,” Root told the ECB. “So I’d like to say I would have dealt with it differently,but I could very easily have done the same thing.
“At the end of the day,it’s within the laws of the game. You should be aware as a player. Jonny will hate me saying this,but if you stay in your crease you can’t get given out,can you?”
Bairstow addressing England team on night four of the Ashes Test at Lord’s in 2023.
England were four wickets down with Ben Stokes and Ben Duckett at the crease and Bairstow next in,chasing 371 to win,when play ended on the fourth day.
“Look,I can’t wait for tomorrow,” Bairstow is shown as saying. “We’ve been a part of some special things over the last 18 months. And for me,it just feels like it could potentially be one of those amazing days,and someone just stand up and put their name on the board,make a contribution,stick your chest out,front up and we’ll be fine.”