Rishi Sunak has tried to score points by attempting some toe-curling Ashes banter with his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese.
Sunak met with Albanese at a Nato summit in Lithuania on Tuesday, which falls between the third and fourth Ashes Test matches between England and Australia. After discussing more important issues, both politicians sensed an opportunity for some light-hearted back and forth about the cricket.
First the two Prime Ministers posed for a photo, with Sunak holding a photo of Mark Wood and Chris Woakes celebrating the winning moment at Headingley, while Albanese clutched a piece of paper showing the 2-1 scoreline in the visitors’ favour.
Albanese then said he’d be “really provocative” and whipped out a photo showing Jonny Bairstow controversially being stumped by Alex Carey at Lord’s while wandering out of his crease. Sunak responded with “I’m sorry I didn’t bring my sandpaper with me!” to awkward laughter in the room.
Sunak was, of course, referring to the scandal which saw Australia stars Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft banned for using sandpaper on the ball against South Africa in 2018. The dated reference comes as the Ashes continues to capture the imagination of the public ahead of the fourth Test at Old Trafford on July 19.
England beat Australia by three wickets at Headingley to stay in the series, which was set alight by Carey’s dismissal of Bairstow at Lord’s in the second match. While relations between the two sides are still relatively amicable, the competitive Ashes spirit is truly alive.
Sunak is not blind to the potential PR wins the series can bring. He tweeted: “I promised @AlboMP I’d give him one of our ministerial folders. Naturally it came with a little reminder of last weekend... two more to go.”
Albanese tweeted: “I caught up with Prime Minister @RishiSunak to discuss progress with AUKUS, technology transfer and economic challenges, as well as the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement. And of course we discussed the #Ashes.”
It is not the first time Sunak has tried to get involved in the national conversation around the Ashes. While the debate was raging on the Bairstow dismissal, his official spokesperson said: "The Prime Minister agrees with Ben Stokes, who said he simply wouldn't want to win a game in the manner Australia did.
"That game did provide an opportunity to see Ben Stokes at his best and it was an incredible Test match and he has confidence England will bounce back at Headingley."
His apparent opinion complied with Stokes’ take after Lord’s: "Jonny was in his crease, then out of his crease to come down and have the chat. I am not disputing the fact it is out because it is out. Would I want to win a game in that manner? The answer for me is no."
