Ashes 2023: England captain Ben Stokes’s 155 in vain as Australia go 2-0 up after Lord’s Test

Australia won a rancourous second Ashes Test at Lord’s on Sunday by 43 runs despite a stunning century from England captain Ben Stokes that was super-charged by the controversial dismissal of Jonny Bairstow.

Stokes made a remarkable 155 before he was dismissed with England 70 runs shy of a steep target of 371.

England were eventually dismissed for 327 as holders Australia, bidding for a first away Ashes series win in 22 years, went 2-0 up in the five-match campaign.

But it was the dismissal of Bairstow shortly before lunch on the last day that lit the blue-touch paper on this match and incited the fury of the usually sedate Lord’s crowd.

Bairstow, the last of England’s specialist batsmen, fell in bizarre fashion for 10 when he wandered out of his ground after ducking a Cameron Green bouncer and quick-thinking wicketkeeper Alex Carey under-armed the ball onto the stumps.

Bairstow thought he had secured his ground by tapping his bat behind the crease.

#Ashes

Safe to say Jonny Bairstow will not be found wandering anywhere, anytime soon. ????

???? England Cricket pic.twitter.com/T7UJqMFTVS— The Field (@thefield_in) July 2, 2023

Australia captain Pat Cummins could have withdrawn the appeal but the decision was referred to third umpire Marais Erasmus, who ruled Bairstow had been stumped, with England now 193-6.

Spectators at the...

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