India off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who has often been subjected to criticism for running out batters at non-striker’s end for backing too far, has backed Alex Carey’s decision to stump a wandering Jonny Bairstow on the final day of the second Ashes Test.

Australia took a 2-0 lead after winning the second Test at the Lord’s by 43 runs.

However, there was some controversy when Bairstow (10), who was looking to forge a partnership with skipper Ben Stokes (155), ducked a slow bouncer from Cameron Green and ventured out of the crease thinking that the ball was already ‘dead’.

However, Carey played within the rules and broke the stumps and third umpire Marais Erasmus adjudged it stumped out in favour of Australia.

Stokes, after the game, didn’t appreciate the Australian tactic as he felt that they clearly knew Bairstow hadn’t ventured out in pursuit of trying to steal a run.

“Would I want to win a game in that manner? I think the answer for me is no,” Stokes told BBC Test Match Special after the game.

In fact, Stuart Broad, the next-man in after Bairstow, didn’t let Carey go without letting him know his feelings. “That’s all you will ever be remembered for,” the stump mic caught Broad giving it back to Carey.

The packed house at Lord’s didn’t like it either as they booed the visitors, chanting: “Same old Aussies, always cheating.” However, Ashwin, who has always been lectured on ‘Spirit of Cricket’, lauded Carey for showing adequate cricketing smarts.

“We must get one fact loud and clear. The keeper would never have a dip at the stumps from that far out in a test match unless he or his team have noticed a pattern of the batter leaving his crease after leaving a ball like Bairstow did. We must applaud the game smarts of the individual rather than skewing it towards unfair play or spirit of the game,” Ashwin tweeted.

As per ICC Playing Conditions, rule 20.1.2, Carey was well within his rights to break the stumps. The rule 20.1.2 states: “The ball shall be considered to be dead when it is clear to the bowler’s end umpire that the fielding side and both batsmen at the wicket have ceased to regard it as in play.” Carey’s action showed that the Aussies considered the ball to be still in play.

With inputs from PTI