Carey stumps Bairstow and the Spirit of Cricket

In almost every game of cricket at any level around the world, you will see a wicket keeper standing back to the fast and medium pace bowlers. At some stage during an innings, the wicket keeper will take the ball the batter either let's go or misses and, in the same motion under arm it back towards the stumps in the hope the batter is out of their crease.

It's been happening since the game began and every wicket keeper, including all our favourite test keepers, have done it at some stage.

Why now, when Alex Carey, in the same motion, does it in a test match for Australia against England and Jonny Bairstow strangely walks out of his crease and is run out are some people so upset and screaming from the rooftops?

As players, we've all been on the field when our wicket keeper has done exactly what Carey did. Did you interject, stop the game, and politely ask your wicket keeper not to do it again?

We celebrate when a wicket keeper takes a stumping off a spinner because the ball has passed the bat, and in the same motion the keeper knocks the bails off and for whatever reason, the batter is out of their crease. Apart from the distance standing back, there's no difference.

We celebrate when a batter plays a cover drive straight to cover, and the fielder swoops on the ball and throws the stumps down with the batter aimlessly outside the crease. We've also scratched our heads at the poor batting when it happens.

I hear the term "Spirit of Cricket" being mentioned.

Individually we all have our own beliefs or definition of what the "Spirit of Cricket" means.

I find it fascinating how people's definition of the "Spirit of Cricket" can be easily undone when self-interest kicks in.

The "Spirit of Cricket" for me is simply play by the umpire's decisions. Keep it simple. Play hard, sure, but let the umpires make the decisions and move on.

The mateship, the camaraderie, sharing a beer, soft drink, or water over a chat and a laugh with your teammates, the opposition, and the umpires after the game all make the game more enjoyable and a far greater experience.

It's the same as accepting the captains, coaches, selectors, and administrators' decisions. You may not like the decision, but if you choose to continue, respect the decision and play to the best of your ability for yourself and your teammates.

If you're a fan, support your team. Ride the highs and lows but respect the umpire's decision. Don't let self-interest cloud your judgement.

In my opinion, that's the "Spirit of Cricket."

Carey did what all wicket keepers do, and Bairstow did what we're all told as youngsters not to do.