Sledging threw off Bairstow

AUSTRALIA didn’t intend to create hundreds of headlines but the sledging-induced dismissal of Jonny Bairstow could hardly have made Steve Smith happier.

Bairstow copped a barrage of barbs from Smith’s side during the first Ashes Test at the Gabba, especially on day four when the game was in the balance.

The chat focused on the wicketkeeper’s run-in with Cameron Bancroft at the start of England’s tour.

Stump microphones picked up David Warner barking “you shouldn’t headbutt our mates”.

“It was basically about trying to get Jonny off his game,” Smith said after Australia cruised to a 10-wicket win.

“It worked … getting caught at third man playing a pretty ordinary stroke. We were just trying to get in his head and it happened to work.”

Bairstow scored 42 in England’s second innings, only to throw his wicket away amid a collapse of 4-10.

He steered a short ball from Mitchell Starc to third man in what should have been the final over before tea on Sunday.

England coach Trevor Bayliss conceded Bairstow’s behaviour had given “the opposition ammunition to put pressure on”.

“They mentioned it to get under Jonny’s skin, as may have been done a few years ago (after David Warner clipped Joe Root) in England,” Bayliss said.

England captain Joe Root said it was “disappointing that we’ve given them an opportunity to bring something up”.

Players have long been opposed to the use of stump microphones.

Cricket Australia is expected to rebuke Triple M, which broadcast Warner’s line on Sunday then uploaded an audio clip of it online the follow morning. The clip was taken down shortly after.

“We certainly have no intention of anyone outside of the people on the field knowing what’s going on — on the field,” Smith said.