VB makes a new beer especially for England’s whingeing cricket team after Jonny Bairstow stumping scandal – complete with a hilarious change to the lager’s name
- VB makes new beer amid Ashes controversy
- Slabs of England Bitter to be sent to Poms
- Ashes series resumes at Headingley tonight
Beer giant Carlton United Breweries (CUB) has produced a cheeky one-off beverage for England’s cricket team in response to the side’s controversial loss to Australia in the second Ashes Test.
A limited-edition ‘England Bitter’ has been bottled for Ben Stokes and his team after their coach Brendon McCullum said they won’t be having a beer with their rivals ‘anytime soon’.
Cases of the lager, branded in the same recognisable green-labelled bottles as VB, have been put on a plane and sent to the English team at Headingley, where the second Test begins on Thursday night, Australian time.
Attached to the beverages is a note telling the Brits to drink the gift warm or cold, whatever the result of the third clash in the series may be.
‘You can get it not protecting your stumps, you can get it ignoring the umps,’ the note said, in a nod to the iconic advertisement jingle.
A special-edition ‘England Bitter’ beer has been created for the English cricket team
Cases of the beer, branded in the same recognisable green-labelled bottles as VB, have been sent to skipper Ben Stokes (pictured) and the rest of the England side
CUB is said to be releasing a new cheeky version of the jingle in coming days.
‘We know the English are bitter about the Lord’s Test, but when they’re feeling less bitter we’ve got a beer to shout them … our fresh new England Bitter,’ VB marketing manager Marc Lord said.
‘England Bitter has got their name on it and we’re sending a few slabs to the English Cricket team to enjoy once they’ve cooled off.
‘We raise our glass to the whole Australian team for securing a famous win in the second Test, and wish them the best of luck in winning the series.’
Free T-shirts with the England Bitter logo will also be given out to Aussie fans at the match on Thursday.
It’s anticipated to be an intense contest, with Headingley regarded as the most hostile ground in England.
The fallout from the Lord’s drama surrounding Jonny Bairstow’s stumping has overshadowed the fact England are 2-0 down in the series, with Australia set to win their first Ashes series on English soil if they overcome the old enemy in Leeds.
Bairstow, whose home ground is Headingley, walked from his crease after the last ball of Cameron Green’s over and was stumped by a throw from Aussie keeper Alex Carey on the last day of the Lord’s Test.
England admitted the decision was correct, but have slammed the Aussies for taking the wicket, which they believe was against the spirit of the game.
England coach Brendon McCullum said his team wouldn’t have a beer with their rivals after the stumping dismissal of Jonny Bairstow (pictured) caused high drama in the Lord’s Test
Australia believe it was fair and square the prime ministers of both nations have become involved in the debate, each backing their sides to the hilt.
On Wednesday morning Australian leader Anthony Albanese told Bairstow to ‘harden up’ during a TV appearance, while a spokesman for his British counterpart Rishi Sunak said, ‘The Prime Minister agrees with Ben Stokes. He said he simply wouldn’t want to win a game in the manner Australia did.’
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