English broadcaster Piers Morgan has launched a characteristically fiery response after Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey named him as the 'ultimate Ashes villain' in a recent video featuring numerous Aussie cricket stars.
The Provocation That Started It All
During a video compilation where several Australian players were asked to identify their ultimate Ashes antagonists, Carey didn't hesitate with his choice. 'Piers, Piers Morgan,' the Australian gloveman declared, sparking the latest chapter in this ongoing cricketing feud.
Morgan, never one to avoid a confrontation, fired back with what can only be described as predictable venom. 'Honoured to have been selected by Australia's cheating wicket-keeper Alex Carey as his ultimate Ashes villain,' the outspoken journalist wrote on social media. 'Takes a villain to know one, Mr Carey.'
Roots of the Rivalry: The Bairstow Stumping
Morgan's pointed reference to 'cheating' harks back to one of the most controversial moments in recent Ashes history - the stumping of England batsman Jonny Bairstow during the previous series. The incident occurred when Bairstow casually wandered out of his crease, assuming the ball was dead, only for Carey to swiftly throw down the stumps.
The dismissal became an immediate flashpoint, dividing cricket purists and sparking heated debates about the 'spirit of the game'. Many England supporters, Morgan among the most vocal, branded Carey, captain Pat Cummins and the entire Australian squad as cheats for what they perceived as an underhanded dismissal.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident back in 2023, Morgan tweeted: 'You cannot be serious? Australia, that is pathetic. How can you possibly want to win an Ashes Test match like that.'
His comments at the time drew sharp criticism from Australian cricket legend Merv Hughes, who labelled Morgan a 'moron' and a 'flog', further fuelling the trans-Ashes animosity.
Building Tensions Ahead of Perth Test
This latest exchange comes just days before the first Ashes Test in Perth, where Australia is expected to debut Jake Weatherald to partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the batting order. Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett are also set to replace the injured Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood.
England will be desperate to break their dismal record Down Under, having not won an Ashes series in Australia since 2011. They may take some confidence from former England fast bowler Stuart Broad's assessment that this represents the 'worst Aussie team' since that victorious tour over a decade ago.
Meanwhile, Carey appears unaffected by the continuing controversy surrounding the Bairstow stumping, maintaining his form and position as one of Australia's most popular cricketers domestically, despite being heavily disliked in England.
Morgan, a veteran broadcaster and avid cricket fan who famously befriended the late Australian legend Shane Warne, continues to be one of the England team's most vocal supporters. This latest spat ensures that the traditional Ashes hostilities will be simmering nicely when the two teams take to the field in Western Australia.
