The Ashes, the most venerated contest in Test cricket, has descended into farce and controversy after a moment on the field led to questions about the game's spirit and the intervention of two prime ministers.

If you're a casual observer of the sport, you'd be forgiven for wondering how the legal stumping of a batsman led to the abuse of players and a borderline diplomatic incident.

So how has a dismissal on the final day of the second Test, upheld by the umpires and the rules of the game, driven an even deeper divide between players, coaches, fans, and yes, even prime ministers?

Today on Please Explain, chief reporter at The Age, Chip Le Grand, on sportsmanship and cricket culture at The Ashes.

The Ashes, the most venerated contest in Test cricket, has descended into farce and controversy after a moment on the field led to questions about the game's spirit and the intervention of two prime ministers.
If you're a casual observer of the sport, you'd be forgiven for wondering how the legal stumping of a batsman led to the abuse of players and a borderline diplomatic incident.
So how has a dismissal on the final day of the second Test, upheld by the umpires and the rules of the game, driven an even deeper divide between players, coaches, fans, and yes, even prime ministers?
Today on Please Explain, chief reporter at The Age, Chip Le Grand, on sportsmanship and cricket culture at The Ashes.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition (formerly Please Explain) brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.

The Morning Edition brings you the story behind the story with the best journalists in Australia. Join host Samantha Selinger-Morris from the newsrooms of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, weekdays from 5am.