Ashes fever grips NATO summit in Lithuania as Anthony Albanese and Rishi Sunak engage in light-hearted banter

The recent meeting between Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the NATO summit in Lithuania turned into a lighthearted exchange of banter, revolving around the ongoing Ashes series. The two leaders, known for their wit and humor, couldn't resist the opportunity to tease each other about their respective teams' performances.

As they posed for photos, Albanese playfully handed Sunak a piece of paper with the scoreline reading '2-1', highlighting Australia's current lead in the series. Sunak, quick to respond, pulled out a photo from his portfolio featuring Mark Wood and Chris Woakes celebrating their victory at Leeds. Not one to back down, Albanese countered by displaying an image of the controversial dismissal of England's Jonny Bairstow in the second Test.

In a witty retort, Sunak quipped, "I'm sorry I didn't bring my sandpaper with me," alluding to the infamous ball-tampering scandal involving the Australian cricket team back in 2018 in South Africa. The exchange of playful jabs continued on Twitter, with Sunak promising to gift Albanese one of their ministerial folders, accompanied by a gentle reminder of the recent match results.

I caught up with Prime Minister @RishiSunak to discuss progress with AUKUS, technology transfer and economic challenges, as well as the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement. pic.twitter.com/5FAAsWGMYL

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 11, 2023

And of course we discussed the #Ashes pic.twitter.com/FeKESkb062

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 11, 2023

The Ashes banter between the two leaders adds a unique dimension to the already intense rivalry between Australian and English cricket teams. While Sunak's spokesperson expressed dissatisfaction with Bairstow's dismissal, Albanese proudly defended his country's cricket team, asserting their winning spirit.

Australian Prime Minister's tweet after their Lord's Test win reflected his support for both the men's and women's teams, emphasizing their consecutive victories against England.

The meeting between the two Prime Ministers not only touched upon cricket but also encompassed discussions on various bilateral issues. AUKUS, technology transfer, and the Australia-UK Free Trade Agreement were among the topics covered during their interaction.

The friendly banter between Albanese and Sunak exemplifies the camaraderie shared between the two nations, even amid a competitive sporting event. As the Ashes series progresses, cricket fans on both sides eagerly await the outcome of the remaining matches, with Australia currently holding the advantage.

The rivalry on the cricket pitch continues to captivate audiences, while the light-hearted exchange between the Prime Ministers adds an element of amusement to the diplomatic ties between Australia and the United Kingdom.