Ashes gets UK PM Rishi Sunak and Australia PM Anthony Albanese trolling each other IRL

Politicians seldom discuss sports when they meet. However, when it comes to the Ashes, one of the most coveted cricket tournaments in world cricket, even prime ministers take an interest.

In the recent NATO meet in Lithuania, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak engaged in a funny banter over the recent outcomes of the Ashes series.

The Australian and British Prime Minister… pic.twitter.com/bMbBJQMU4F

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Rishi Sunak vs Anthony Albanese

The Australian PM started the leg pulling by first showing an A4 size paper with "2-1" written on it, indicating Australia's current position in the Ashes series.

Rishi Sunak countered this with a picture of England batters Mark Wood and Chris Woakes celebrating England's win in the third Test match on Sunday at Headingley.

The Australian PM, on seeing this, took out another photo of England wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow's controversial dismissal by Australian wicket-keeper Alex Carey in the second Test match, which Australia won.

To this, Sunak took a jibe at the Australian PM by saying, "I am sorry. I didn't bring my sandpaper," referring to the 2018 Sandpaper Scandal by the Australian team in Cape Town, South Africa.

Rishi Sunak had also criticized Bairstow's dismissal, saying that he "would not want to win the game the way Australia did." Sunak had called Alex Carey's actions against the "spirit of the game." The dismissal also led to a controversial scene at the famous "Lords Room" when some people confronted the Australian team due to that wicket.

The England fans since then have mocked the Australian team throughout the match, specifically targeting Steve Smith, whom the crowd chanted with, "We saw you cry at the telly." Smith had cried in a press conference in 2018 after he along with David Warner were sentenced to 12 months' ban after being found guilty of "tampering" with the ball during a game against South Africa in Cape Town.

The Australian Prime Minister also tried to mock Sunak by trying to mark a crease. In the end, both the leaders laughed it off and it ended on a fine note.

England eyes victory in the fourth Ashes Test

The Ashes series so far has been dominated by Australia, who have displayed an all-round performance. After crushing England in the first match, Australia maintained the momentum in the second match too.

However, in the third Test, England staged a comeback by winning the third Test by 3 wickets. A good bowling performance by Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, and Moeen Ali brought England back into the game.

England will eye a victory in the fourth match to keep the hopes of the Ashes series alive, while Australia will eye a victory to retain the Ashes trophy. The fourth Test starts on July 19, 2023.