Vilnius, Lithuania : On the sidelines of a NATO summit in the Lithuanian capital, Vilnius, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese found a lighthearted way to engage in some friendly banter, revolving around their countries’ cricket teams. The humorous exchange sent the room into peals of laughter and showcased the camaraderie between the leaders.
The cricket banter between Sunak and Albanese began during the second Test of the Ashes series at Lord’s in London, where the controversial run-out of England batter Jonny Bairstow by Alex Carey took place. As the two leaders met in Vilnius, Albanese playfully produced a picture of Bairstow’s run-out, poking fun at the England team. In response, Sunak displayed a picture of England players Chris Woakes and Mark Wood hugging after their match-winning shot at Headingley during the third Test.
Adding a touch of wit to the exchange, Sunak quipped, “I am sorry, I did not bring my sandpaper with me,” alluding to the infamous 2018 Ball-Tampering Scandal, known as the ‘Sandpaper Gate.’ The scandal involved Australian captain Steve Smith, Vice-captain David Warner, and batter Cameron Bancroft, who received heavy sanctions from Cricket Australia for their involvement in ball tampering.
The light-hearted cricket banter not only entertained those present but also highlighted the ongoing Ashes series, with Albanese proudly displaying a piece of paper indicating Australia’s current 2-1 lead in the series.
In a recent statement following England’s loss at Lord’s, English skipper Ben Stokes expressed his disapproval of winning a game through controversial means. He emphasised the importance of the spirit of the game and stated, “I am not disputing the fact that it is out because it is not. If the shoe was on the other foot, I would have put more pressure on the umpires and asked whether they had called over and had a deep think about the whole spirit of the game. Would I want to win a game in that manner? The answer for me is no.”
Prime Minister Sunak echoed Stokes’ sentiments, stating, “The Prime Minister agrees with Ben Stokes. He said he simply would not want to win a game in the manner that Australia did.”
With Australia currently leading the series 2-1, the focus now shifts to the upcoming fourth Test, scheduled to be played in Manchester from July 19 onwards. Cricket fans from both nations eagerly await the thrilling contest as the Ashes series continues.
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