Piers Morgan hits out at Karl Stefanovic over Ashes scandal, mocks Today host for refusing to pronounce his name correctly and reveals what he’ll do if England ‘win’ on live TV
Morgan hits back at stumping dismissal Good-naturedly mocked Today Show host predicts England will win series 3-2 after comeback
Piers Morgan continued to slam the Aussie cricket team for the biggest controversy to hit the Ashes in decades, exchanging hilarious insults with his partner, Today Show host Karl Stefanovic.
The outspoken English media personality has taken every opportunity to blast Pat Cummins’ side over Jonny Bairstow’s highly controversial dismissal in the second Test, when the wicketkeeper was stumped as the last ball of an over left his crease.
Morgan compared the wicket to the infamous underarm ball bowled by Australia against New Zealand in 1981 and even said his friend Shane Warne would consider the incident ‘quite common’ if he were alive.
His campaign against the team has led to him being referred to as a ‘whipping’ by Aussie cricket legend Marv Hughes – which Stefanovic pointed out to start their war of words on Wednesday morning.
Morgan (right) shocked claims most Aussie cricket fans agree with him over Jonny Bairstow’s controversial dismissal in the second Test – and his partner Karl Stefanovic loved the banter
‘Did you whip me? Because I tell you, where I come from, whipping is beating, like we beat you a lot at Headingley,’ Morgan said, referring to England’s win in the third Test.
‘I don’t care what you want to call me from your safe seat over there, Stefanovic,’ he continued – pronouncing the host’s last name ‘Steph-an-oh-witch’ in the first – but not the last – segment.
Morgan went on to reveal that Stefanovic suddenly stopped texting him after the Australia defeat, where he had been contacting him ‘every two minutes’ as they took a 2-0 series lead with wins at Edgbaston and Lord’s.
After comparing the Headingley win to the infamous Bodyline Ashes series which England won in controversial tactics in 1932-33, the British broadcaster has made a damning claim.
Moment that infuriated Pearce: Morgan said Aussie cricket had been dragged ‘into the gutter’ by Alex Carey’s stump throwing at Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s
The outspoken broadcaster even said that his partner Shane Warne (pictured together) thought the Aussies’ tactics at Lord’s were ‘quite ordinary’.
Stefanovic began the interview by bringing up the fact that Aussie cricket legend Marv Hughes had branded Morgan a ‘whip’ – drawing a hilarious response.
“Most polite Australian cricket fans agree with me,” he said.
‘You broke the spirit of cricket a lot in that game and because of that you are now facing a whirlwind of revenge from the captain. [Ben] Stokes and his band of Ashes-winning men, and we’re going to beat you at Old Trafford, beat you at the Oval, we’re going to win 3-2 and I’ll be back on your show to cheer for hours.’
Morgan admitted he ‘didn’t like’ the behavior of Lord’s members who abused the Australian players in the ground’s famous Long Room after Bairstow’s dismissal.
However, he characterized the media’s reaction as down under hypocrisy, especially when the crowd booed him in 2013 when fast bowler Brett Lee ‘rearranged my ribs’ by bowling wickedly in the nets.
Today he appeared to be smitten by Lee, sending Stefanovic laughing and prompting Morgan to say, ‘Are you laughing? He almost killed me!’
He ends by raising past cheating controversies and announcing what he will do ‘when’ what could be one of cricket’s greatest comebacks in the England series.
‘It was a chance to show the world you’ve come from Sandpapergate. what did you do You have rightly dragged yourself into the gutter, you have broken the spirit of cricket, you have run Jonny Bairstow out when you knew it was Wang.
‘When we get the statue, I’ll kiss it live on air, on the Today show.’
Australia will face England in the fourth Test in Manchester on July 19.