Aussie fans troll Ashes villain Ollie Robinson for his angry run-out attempt and joke that it’s ‘not in the spirit of cricket’ after Bairstow stumping scandal
Ollie Robinson has been accused of not playing in the ‘spirit of cricket’ by cheeky Aussie fans after he tried to dismiss Mitchell Marsh when the batter was momentarily out of his crease at Headlingley on Thursday.
The Ashes villain – who was slammed for his foul-mouthed clash with Usman Khawaja in the first Test of the series – attempted to throw down the stumps when Marsh moved a fraction too far up the wicket after punching a delivery back to the bowler with the Aussies at 4-165.
It’s a common tactic during matches and bore no resemblance to the highly controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s, but that didn’t stop Aussie fans from using the ‘spirit of cricket’ line England hammered the tourists with after the second Test.
Ollie Robinson was already on the nose with Australian fans after his clash with Usman Khawaja in the first Test – and he upped the ante at Headingley on Thursday
The English quick (wearing number 57) attempted to throw down Travis Head’s stumps when the Aussie was momentarily out of his crease
One fan reacted by using England skipper Ben Stokes’ line criticising the Aussies after Jonny Bairstow’s drama-charged stumping – and he was joined by plenty of other supporters who cheekily accused the bowler of not playing in the spirit of the game
Pat Cummins’ side were accused of damaging the sport’s reputation when Alex Carey skittled Bairstow’s lumber as he left the crease before the umpire had called ‘over’ during England’s second innings.
Fans of the tourists picked up and ran with the line online after Robinson’s attempted run-out.
‘Not in the spirit of the game that, disappointing,’ one Tweeted.
‘What cheats I wouldn’t want to win a game like that,’ wrote another, referencing the line England skipper Ben Stokes used about Australia’s method of victory after the Lord’s contest.
‘Because the “spirit of the game” is something only teams playing England must abide by. Hence, his send off of Uzzie [Khawaja] at Edgbaston. Completely within the spirit of the game,’ said another Aussie fan.
Those posts were accompanied by several similar statements.
Robinson gave away 38 runs and failed to take a wicket despite the track at Headingley being easily the best for fast bowlers so far in the series, as evidenced by the fact Mark Wood had figures of 5-34 with his express pace.
Robinson (pictured appealing during the third Test) failed to take a wicket despite the track at Leeds being easily the best for fast bowlers so far in the series
Cummins also did well once the hosts were put in, taking 2-28.
Robinson wasn’t the only England star to be slammed by Aussie fans during the first day’s play.
Skipper Ben Stokes was accused of cheating when he touched the boundary rope while fielding a Travis Head shot, but didn’t own up to doing so when the umpires didn’t score it as a four.
Former England skipper Nasser Hussain was stunned and said, ‘Wow, how’s that not a four? No idea how that’s a four.’
He was joined by former Sheffield Shield star Darren Berry, who tweeted, ‘OMG THIS IS WHEY WE GET UPSET. Stokes clearly touching the rope for the world to see but the 3rd umpire gets it wrong. HOW? human error even with the technology that is not good enough.
***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk