Jonny Bairstow gets revenge on Aussies as he smashes Josh Hazlewood’s big hope for the fourth Test and accuses team of setting a bad example for kids

Jonny Bairstow has accused Australia of setting a bad example for young people through his controversial stumping at Lord’s, doubling down on England’s criticism of the sacking.

In a fiery postscript to his unbeaten 99 at Old Trafford on Friday, Bairstow took aim at critics questioning the 33-year-old’s place in the England team – and had a few choice words for Australian Josh Hazlewood.

He also revealed his struggles to bounce back from a broken leg and dislocated ankle this Ashes summer, saying surgeons warned he might never walk again.

But he saved his sharpest reflection for Australia, speaking for the first time since England accused the tourists of breaking the spirit of cricket by punching Bairstow when they strayed from his fold.

Bairstow hit an unbeaten 99, setting England up for victory if the rain held off

“The way we’ve played this game and played for the last 18 months is something we’re very proud of,” said Bairstow.

“It wasn’t the way I wanted to be at Lord’s.

“That’s part of the game now. We have seen it on other occasions.

‘I’ve even heard about it (happening) now in club cricket. That’s not necessarily what you want to hear.

Bairstow questioned the Australians’ confidence after hearing Hazlewood’s comments about hoping for rain

“The example for me is when you look at young kids coming up. You want to play the game and play it like I’ve always played it, you play it tough, you play it fair.

“And on another day it won’t happen.”

Australia has since routinely defended the stumping, pointing out that it was within the rules and that Bairstow should blame himself for careless handling of his wicket.

Bairstow’s comments could be seen as hypocritical after footage from a County Cricket match showed he had also pulled a controversial stunt.

A clip tweeted by popular sports media account Jomboy shows Nottinghamshire batsman Samit Patel leaving a pitch during a match against Yorkshire.

Bairstow is seen punching a batter in the split second he was out of whack in a dismissal that bore striking similarities to his stumping at Lord’s

Bairstow stands behind the stumps and removes the braces in the fraction of a second Patel has his foot in the air.

“It’s very, very clever of Jonny Bairstow,” the commentator said.

The comments came after Bairstow hit 99 off 81 balls to take the match away from Australia on day three of the fourth Test, helping England to 592 in their first innings.

Australia went to stumps 4-113 in their second innings and needed 162 more runs to strike England again, leading Hazlewood to say the team hopes rain saves them from what looks like certain defeat.

“Obviously it’s a prediction and predictions can change all the time,” Hazlewood said.

‘Rain and light play a big part in cricket and always have.

“So yeah, it would be great to lose a few overs here and there and make it a little easier for us to hang on there. That’s pretty clear.’

Bairstow hit back when he questioned the tourists’ confidence after hearing Hazlewood’s comments.

“Obviously the way we’ve been playing the game and have been playing for the last 18 months is something we’re very proud of,” he said.

“If that’s the response coming in, then it’s the weather again. I’m not (veteran British weatherman) Michael Fish.’

Bairstow looks stunned as he is handed out after the controversial stumping performed by Australian Alex Carey (green gloves) at Lord’s as Cam Green looks on

Bairstow also fired at reporters for not acknowledging his attempt to return from the injury after failing to keep the wicket consistently in the previous years.

“After three years of not keeping it, it’s one of those things that takes some time, regardless of the ankle,” Bairstow said.

‘That’s part of it.

“It would be like taking a three-year sabbatical and then coming back and writing at the same level as you, day in and day out.”