The cricketing world was left astir as Jonny Bairstow’s controversial stumping on the final day of the Lord’s Test spilled over into the realm of politics. With tensions running high, political leaders from Australia and England joined the fray, expressing contrasting opinions on the debacle. While Rishi Sunak aligned himself with Ben Stokes’ interpretation of the dismissal, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese seized the moment to commend his team, subtly taking a jibe at his counterpart.
A spokesperson for Sunak released a statement saying, “The prime minister agrees with Ben Stokes, and he said he simply wouldn’t want to win a game in the manner Australia did. The game did provide an opportunity to see Ben Stokes at his best, and it was an incredible Test match, and he has confidence England will bounce back at Headingley.”
On the other side of the globe, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese seized the opportunity to revel in the triumphs of the Australian cricket teams, applauding their accomplishments in the Ashes clashes. Taking a playful dig at the Lord’s crowd, who had jeered the Australians with chants of “Same old Aussies – always cheating!” on the fifth day, Albanese took to Twitter to express his elation.
He wrote, “I am bursting with pride for our remarkable men’s and women’s cricket teams, who have delivered back-to-back victories in their opening two #Ashes matches against England. Same old Aussies – always winning! Australia stands united behind the exceptional talents of Alyssa Healy, Pat Cummins, and their invincible teams, eagerly anticipating their triumphant homecoming.”
These conflicting political opinions have triggered a divisive wave among supporters, fueling passionate debates and dividing social media platforms.
I’m proud of our men’s and women’s cricket teams, who have both won their opening two #Ashes matches against England.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 3, 2023
Same old Aussies – always winning!
Australia is right behind @ahealy77, @patcummins30 and their teams and look forward to welcoming them home victorious 👏
Last Updated on July 4, 2023
Senior Sports Copywriter
