Brendon McCullum makes admission over controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow

England head coach Brendon McCullum doubts his side will be ‘having a beer any time soon’ with the Australian players after a controversial second Test climax at Lord’s.

Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal – from his crease believing the ball was dead as Alex Carey’s dexterous forearm threw down his stumps – overshadowed Australia’s 43-run victory to advance 2–0 in the series.

It led to Ben Stokes accusing Australia of forgetting the ‘spirit of the game’, Stuart Broad lashing out at wicketkeeper Alex Carey while Lord’s suspended three MCC members after Australian stars Usman Khawaja and David Warner were confronted and accused of cheating.

The Laws read: ‘The ball shall be considered dead when it is clear to the umpire at the bowler’s end that the fielding side and both batters at the wicket have ceased to consider it in play.’

Carey throwing without hesitation in collecting the ball seems to vindicate him, but as Bairstow was not looking for a run, the Australian wicketkeeper’s actions call into question the so-called ‘spirit of the game’.

Bairstow was controversially stunned on the fifth morning of the second Test at Lord’s

The moment overshadowed Australia’s win as they took a commanding lead in the Ashes

And the famously laid-back McCullum admitted that the flashpoint could affect relations between the teams, as he said on the BBC’s Test Match Special: ‘I can’t imagine we’ll be having a beer anytime soon.’

Carey’s quick handwork and Australian captain Pat Cummins’ decision to keep the appeal going meant that a visibly furious Bairstow had to leave, but a normally placid Lord’s crowd boiled over the outcome, with boos and chants from ‘the same old Aussies , always cheating’. the last day.

Stokes worked through all the frustration in a stunning innings of 155 as England were all out for 327 in the chase of 371, but Bairstow’s dismissal remained on everyone’s lips after the denouement.

McCullum added, “I think it was more about the spirit of the game and as you get older and more mature you realize that the game and the spirit of it is something you have to protect.”

“You have decisions to make right now, and those can affect games and people’s characters.

“According to the letter of the law, he’s out. Jonny didn’t try to score and the umpires had called ‘over’.

Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja got into a heated argument with a member of Marylebone Cricket Club in Lord’s Long Room after Bairstow’s bizarre sacking

After the Long Room member exchanged words with Khawaja, David Warner was then confronted before being pulled away by the staff

England captain Ben Stokes accused Australia of forgetting the ‘spirit of the game’

“It’s one of those hard to swallow and when you look at the small margins, it’s really disappointing.

“A lot of people will have opinions on both sides of the fence. But the most disappointing thing is that it will be the most talked about event of a great test match.”

However, Stokes believes McCullum was speaking in the heat of the moment when he said the sides would not share beer and thinks it would be a shame to “ruin” the tradition.

He said, “I think there’s a little bit of emotion in that (McCullum’s comment) to be honest. It’s very soon after something happened.

“I’m not one to hold too much grudge. I’ve been through enough to know you can let things go.

“But I think ruining a tradition that’s been around for so long, such a big series, I think a few people’s feelings will definitely change as the series goes on.

“Maybe if we didn’t do what we always do and have a beer together and say, well done, great effort and all that stuff, it would be sad. But I think that was just emotion.”