'Basic To Follow The Ball And Then Leave The Crease': R Ashwin Further Explains His Take On Jonny Bairstow Stumping Incident

R Ashwin, the world's number 1 ranked Test bowler, reckons that Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey did nothing wrong in the manner in which he stumped Jonny Bairstow.

Ravichandran Ashwin of India arrives at the stadium prior to day three of the ICC World Test Championship Final between Australia and India at The Oval on June 09, 2023 in London, England.

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Veteran India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin is known for the way he thinks about the sport. The star India cricketer follows the game in and out and is what one can call a cricketing nerd. In addition, he has his rational-based views on the game which offers a deep insight into how he goes about his bowling. And in the recent Jonny Bairstow stumping incident on Day 5 of the second Ashes Test at Lord's too, Ashwin has now shared his views.

The world's number 1 ranked Test bowler reckons that Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey did nothing wrong in the manner in which he stumped Bairstow. He even reminded of basic rules that cricketers are expected to follow at this level.

"Whenever there is a run-out in non-striker's end or Carey-Bairstow incident, there is a new name that has arrived 'Spirit of cricket' - but you don't feel for (Alex) Carey who is 20 meters away from stumps, to hit the stumps by making the plan and you say Spirit of cricket, I don't get it," Ashwin said in a video uploaded on his YouTube channel.

"A debate regarding that Bairstow dismissal is that since it was the last ball of the over, it seems he left that delivery and came to the non-striker end to have a chat. Take a look at the replay again. Alex Carey didn't wait for a second to hit the stumps. He knew Bairstow will leave the crease and that's why he threw at the stumps immediately. Bairstow didn't take a single look behind and started leaving his crease," he added.

"It's the most basic stuff, guys. Follow the ball and then leave the crease. Even now in Ranji Trophy and international cricket, the batsman will always look at the keeper and slip fielder, ask their permission and only then leave the crease. That's because the keeper and the slip-cordon can still do it. That is absolutely allowed within the rules of the game. Since the game was in the balance, I can understand the crowd going on with it. Other than that, I don't think there is anything wrong with what Carey did. He correctly utilised seeing the pattern of what Bairstow usually does," he further said.

Meanwhile, Ashwin is with Team India which landed in the Carribean ahead of the team's first Test match against West Indies at the Windsor Park Dominica beginning on July 12.