Australia PM hits out at Rishi Sunak and tells him ‘stay in your crease’ as he bats off Aussie Ashes cheat row
AUSTRALIAN PM Anthony Albanese last night warned Rishi Sunak to “stay in your crease” as he batted off criticism over the Aussie Ashes cheat row.
Mr Albanese insisted his English counterpart’s disappointment was “understandable”.
GettyRishi Sunak was at Lords over the weekend[/caption]
APLast night Australian PM Anthony Albanese said he was “proud” of the Aussie Ashes team amid a row over cheating[/caption]
But he told the Sydney Morning Herald: “Mr Sunak must have had the same lessons I got at primary school… stay in your crease.
“Hope you’re well PM.”
In a further dig, Mr Albanese tweeted: “I’m proud of our men’s and women’s cricket teams, who have both won their opening two Ashes matches against England.
“Same old Aussies – always winning!
“Australia is right behind Alyssa Healy and Pat Cummins and their teams and look forward to welcoming them home victorious.”
The fallout from Sunday’s match continued after Jonny Bairstow was stumped upon leaving his crease believing the over had ended.
It saw the Aussies clinch victory to go 2-0 up in the series and left Ben Stokes’ boys livid at their opponents’ behaviour.
Weighing in on the storm, Mr Sunak – who attended the fourth day on Saturday – ordered Downing Street to issue a robust response attacking the lack of sportsmanship.
His spokesman said: “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 in the wall bounce back at Headingley”.
This morning Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer told Times Radio: “I think we should consider ourselves lucky these guys were caught sandpapering the ball.
“So I think fair play out of these guys is not something you’re going to expect and let’s get on with it and give them a good pasting in the next test.”
Former England captain Geoffrey Boycott piled in demanding a “full apology” from Australia.
He said: “These teams have played brilliant cricket in great spirit and it is a shame when something like that happens to spoil it all.”
But last night high-profile Aussies hit back against England’s “undignified” response to defeat.
Their former high commissioner to Britain Alexander Downer said disgruntled Barmy Army fans must dry their eyes.
Former Australian High Commissioner Alexander Downer told The Sun: “It’s a bit undignified to go around complaining that the team that defeated you cheated when the team doesn’t make the decision the umpire did and it was consistent because everybody has pointed out with the rules of cricket.”
Canberra’s former man in London added: “The trouble is, it makes England look like bad sports, bad losers.
“People just shrug their shoulders and say, well, that’s the poms for you.
“They lost and so they’re now screaming blue murder about it and it wasn’t fair. Boo hoo.
“Bursting into tears when you lose a game? Look, honestly, it’s only a game and there’s another one starting next weekend in Headingley.
“And you know, they may very well win that one. But if they do win, Australians won’t burst into tears.”
The Australian Government even issued a statement saying everyone should move on and focus on the rest of the five-test series.
Incumbent high commissioner Stephen Smith said: “Every cricket follower will already have formed a view about the events at Lords. And those views will invariably be strongly held and firmly put.
“The Ashes has always had such moments. Headingley starts on Thursday and the time will very quickly be upon us when we will focus on another Test in another great Ashes Series.”
Mr Sunak spokesman praised the MCC for suspending three members accused of abusing Australian players in the famous Long Room at Lords.
It came as a video has emerged of MCC members HISSING at Australia players after Bairstow’s controversial dismissal.
