English journalist and presenter Piers Morgan has fired back in typically robust style after Aussie wicketkeeper Alex Carey labelled him the ‘ultimate Ashes villain’.
Carey made the comment via a video in which numerous Aussie stars also named their ultimate Ashes bad guys.
‘Piers, Piers Morgan,’ Carey said when he was asked to name his choice.
The comment drew a withering comeback from the famous English journalist, who is known for sticking up for his beloved Three Lions team.
‘Honoured to have been selected by Australia‘s cheating wicket-keeper Alex Carey as his ultimate Ashes villain. Takes a villain to know one, Mr Carey,’ Morgan wrote.
Morgan was referring to the polarising stumping incident in the previous Ashes series, where Carey dismissed England batter and keeper Jonny Bairstow.
Alex Carey (pictured celebrating after stumping Jonny Bairstow) is one of the most popular cricketers in Australia – but is heavily disliked in England
Australia retained the Ashes when the teams last faced off back in 2023, with the stumping of Bairstow (pictured left just after the incident) becoming a huge flashpoint
Veteran broadcaster Morgan is an avid cricket fan who became friends with the late, great Aussie legend Shane Warne (pictured together)
The event gained widespread attention and became one of the most controversial moments in the long history of the battle for the urn.
Carey, captain Pat Cummins and the members of the Aussie squad were branded cheats by many England fans who thought the dismissal was not in the spirit of the game.
In the immediate aftermath of the incident, Morgan was among the most critical voices.
‘You cannot be serious? Australia, that is pathetic,’ he tweeted.
‘How can you possibly want to win an Ashes Test match like that.’
His comments drew the ire of Aussie great Merv Hughes, who labelled the commentator a ‘moron’ and a ‘flog’.
Morgan’s latest jab comes just days before the first Ashes Test in Perth.
Carey (pictured) hasn’t let the controversy following the incident affect his game
Morgan (pictured) was called out by former Aussie fast bowler Merv Hughes after he blasted the Aussies over the dismissal
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 has not won an Ashes series Down Under since 2011.
But they’ll be hoping they can topple an Australian XI, which former fast bowler Stuart Broad has deemed the ‘worst Aussie team’ since that series.
