The Australian prime minister gave Rishi Sunak a photograph of Jonny Bairstow’s controversial Ashes stumping in the margins of the Nato summit.

       The two men had “good cricket banter” at a “brush by” meeting in Vilnius, Lithuania, where they joked about their countries’ sporting rivalry.

       Anthony Albanese gave Mr Sunak a photograph of the moment Bairstow was stumped after walking out of his crease during the second Ashes test at Lord’s, believing the over had ended.

       The incident sparked abuse of the Australian team from members of the Marylebone Cricket Club – leading to three suspensions from the “home of cricket”.

       Mr Sunak reciprocated with a photograph of Mark Wood and Chris Woakes embracing after winning the third Ashes Test at Headingley on Sunday.

       Mr Albanese held up a sign that read “2-1”, the current score between England and Australia.

       Despite Mr Sunak’s anger at the stumping, a UK Government source insisted: “It was very friendly, lots of good cricket banter – genuinely very, very friendly.”

       The source insisted neither of the men knew the other had brought a photograph to taunt the other, although it is understood they have exchanged text messages about the Ashes in recent days.

       Speaking immediately after the stumping, which prompted calls for an apology, Mr Sunak’s spokesman said he was uncomfortable with the Australians’ style of play.

       “The Prime Minister agrees with Ben Stokes – he said he simply wouldn’t want to win a game in the manner Australia did,” said his spokesman.

       Asked on Tuesday if the Prime Minister intended to take political inspiration from England’s comeback in the Ashes, a source replied: “If you have the belief and the right team and the right tactics then you can do anything.”

       Australia, South Korea, Japan and New Zealand are not members of Nato but have been invited to the summit as Indo-Pacific partners.