Jonny Bairstow has accused Australia of setting a poor example for youngsters through his controversial stumping at Lord’s, doubling down on England’s criticism of the dismissal.

In a fiery postscript to his unbeaten 99 at Old Trafford on Friday, Bairstow turned blowtorch on critics who questioned the 33-year-old’s spot in England’s team – and had a few choice words for Australia’s Josh Hazlewood.

He also revealed his struggle to return from a broken leg and dislocated ankle in this Ashes summer, saying surgeons warned he may never walk again.

But he saved his most pointed reflection for Australia, speaking for the first time since England accused the tourists of breaching the spirit of cricket by stumping Bairstow when wandering out of his crease.

Aussie quick Josh Hazlewood is praying for rain to ruin the remainder of the 4th Test which would give Australia the series win

Aussie quick Josh Hazlewood is praying for rain to ruin the remainder of the 4th Test which would give Australia the series win

Bairstow bashed an unbeaten 99, setting England up for victory should the rain stay away

Bairstow bashed an unbeaten 99, setting England up for victory should the rain stay away  

‘The way in which we have played this game and have played over the past 18 months is something we are very proud of,’ Bairstow said.

‘It wasn’t the way I wanted to be out down at Lord’s.

‘That is part and parcel now of the game. We have seen it on other occasions.

‘I have even heard about it (happening) now in club cricket. That’s not necessarily what you want to be hearing.

Bairstow questioned the Australians' confidence level after hearing Hazlewood's remarks about hoping for rain

Bairstow questioned the Australians’ confidence level after hearing Hazlewood’s remarks about hoping for rain

‘The example for me is when you are looking at young kids coming up. You want to be playing the game and play it how I have always played it, you play it tough, you play it fair.

‘And on a different day it doesn’t happen.’

Australia have routinely defended the stumping since, pointing out it was within the rules and Bairstow should blame himself for being careless with his wicket. 

Bairstow’s comments can be seen as hypocritical after footage from a County Cricket match revealed he had also pulled off a controversial stumping.

A clip tweeted by popular sports media account Jomboy shows Nottinghamshire batter Samit Patel leaving a delivery during a match against Yorkshire.

Bairstow is seen stumping a batter in the split second he was out of his crease in a dismissal that bore striking similarities to his stumping at Lord's

Bairstow is seen stumping a batter in the split second he was out of his crease in a dismissal that bore striking similarities to his stumping at Lord’s

Standing behind the stumps, Bairstow removes the bails during the split second Patel has his foot in the air.

‘It’s very, very smart from Jonny Bairstow,’ the commentator said.

The comments came after Bairstow smashed 99 off 81 balls to take the game away from Australia on day three of the fourth Test, helping England to 592 in their first innings.

Australia went to stumps 4-113 in their second innings, needing 162 more runs to make England bat again, leading Hazlewood to say the team are hoping rain saves them from what looks like a sure defeat.

‘It’s obviously forecast and forecasts can change all the time,’ Hazlewood said.

‘Rain and light play a big part in cricket and has done forever.

‘So yeah, it’d be great to lose a few overs here and there and make our job a little easier of hanging in there. That’s pretty obvious.’

Bairstow hit back as he questioned the tourists’ confidence level after hearing of Hazlewood’s remarks.

‘Obviously the way in which we have played the game and have played over the last 18 months is something we are very proud of,’ he said. 

‘If that’s the comments that are coming through, well the weather is the weather. I’m not (veteran British weatherman) Michael Fish.’

Bairstow looks bemused as he is given out following the controversial stumping executed by Australia's Alex Carey (green gloves)  at Lord's while Cam Green looks on

Bairstow looks bemused as he is given out following the controversial stumping executed by Australia’s Alex Carey (green gloves)  at Lord’s while Cam Green looks on

Bairstow also fired up at reporters for not acknowledging his effort to return from the injury after not keeping wicket consistently in the years prior.

‘Keeping after three years not keeping, it’s one of those things that takes a bit of time, irrelevant of the ankle,’ Bairstow said.

‘That’s part and parcel of it.

‘It would be like you guys taking a three-year sabbatical and then coming back and writing to the same level which you do, day-in day-out.’

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Post source: Daily mail

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