Cricket Australia have defended their use of Alex Carey’s infamous Jonny Bairstow stumping to advertise the Ashes, despite a complaint from the Barmy Army.
Bairstow’s 2023 dismissal has remained a sore point for many English players and fans, with the ‘spirit of cricket’ called into question during and after the incident.
Aussie players and fans have remained firmly on the side of the rules and have often poked fun at England and Bairstow for the reaction to the famous moment.
READ MORE: Head’s subtle hint at Adelaide batting plan
READ MORE: ‘Final goal’: Title hopes that kept Kikau in Belmore
READ MORE: Keeper refuses to stump batter in bizarre T20 scenes
The governing body was all too happy to use the Carey-Bairstow moment to hype up this summer’s series, using it at the start of an ad campaign to sell tickets.
However, it didn’t go down too well with Barmy Army leader Tony Emmerson, who told The Age that the use of Carey’s stumping shows the lack of “creativity” from Australia.
“I just think it’s not very creative,” he said.
“I’m sure they could’ve come up with something a little bit more creative or thought-provoking. It goes to the creativity the Australians put into writing their songs.”
Emmerson poked fun at the “Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi” chant that is heard in stadiums across the country for countless sports.
CA have defended the ad campaign and using Carey’s dismissal and voiceover.
“The advertisement, which has run on various platforms for three months, includes, in a respectful manner, a dramatic and oft-replayed moment that exemplifies the heightened intensity of the Ashes rivalry,” a CA spokesperson told The Age.
“We’re really pleased with the response to our Ashes marketing campaign, which has contributed strongly to the enormous crowds and viewing audiences for the series.”
While he wasn’t a fan of the advertising, Emmerson – who goes by the nickname ‘Fun Time Tony’ when running the Melbourne and Sydney groups of Barmy Army fans – did admit he found no issue with Carey’s dismissal and most fans had moved past it.
Jonny Bairstow is stumped by Alex Carey Getty
“As far as I’m concerned, there is a level of spirit of cricket and the rules of cricket, and the rules of cricket win the day,” Emmerson said.
“I think we’ve gotten over it. It was one of those things. The biggest disappointment was England was going to win the Test match – that was the most annoying thing about it.
“Most English people have gotten over it. I don’t think they boo Carey any more. They’re fair-minded. The guy’s wicketkeeping last Test match was superb.
They’re big enough to recognise that, and they understand cricket well enough to see someone who has done well.”
The third Test will begin on Wednesday morning at Adelaide Oval.