Jonny Bairstow says fans booing Steve Smith and David Warner only same as taunts Stuart Broad received

Jonny Bairstow has questioned Justin Langer’s pleas for fans to lay off Steve Smith and David Warner, citing the treatment Stuart Broad got when he failed to walk after nicking off in 2013 Ashes.

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Justin Langer’s plea for England crowds to treat Steve Smith and David Warner with respect smacks of hypocrisy after Australia wanted “cheat” Stuart Broad to leave the Ashes in tears, according to Jonny Bairstow.

A packed crowd at Lord’s is set to rip into Smith and Warner when England plays Australia on Tuesday night, although the Barmy Army’s presence will be limited because it struggles to source tickets at the famous old ground.

Bairstow, who formed a lethal opening combination with Warner in the recent Indian Premier League, wrote a column in an English newspaper taking aim at Langer’s pre-tournament wishes.

David Warner and Steve Smith are sure to be heckled when they face England at Lord’s.

“There is a fine line. There was a time not that long ago when Australia coach, Darren Lehmann, was telling the Australia crowd to send Stuart Broad home crying,” Bairstow wrote in The Times.

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“I’m sure it was not meant maliciously but for Australians then to say ‘do not boo these guys’ is interesting.

“It has to work both ways, it can’t just all be one way. Look, I’m not saying it is right or wrong. But to have the mentality we can do it to you, but you cannot do it to us is a bit strange.”

England's Jonny Bairstow sees double standards in calls for fans to stop booing the Australians.

Bairstow added that Langer and Indian captain Virat Kohli’s pleas were pointless anyway, given fans will react “however they want, particularly in the Ashes”.

The crowd hostility has waned since Australia’s first three World Cup games.

While Smith and Warner were jeered by Afghanistan, West Indies and Indian fans, there has been little noise in recent games against Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

But the loudest boos came on the day Smith posted a brilliant century against England in the warm-up match in Southampton in a clear guide as to what the unpopular duo can expect on Tuesday.

After that clash Langer said he would be “disappointed” if his star batsmen were booed.

Australian fans did not easily forgive Stuart Broad when he refused to walk.

“It obviously hurts because I have got an emotional attachment, and a personal attachment, to our players. It is never a good look, is it, when that happens.”

In 2013 Broad failed to walk despite nicking a delivery in the Ashes, which prompted Lehmann to rile up the Aussie fans for the home series that was around the corner.

England has been urged to channel Sir Ian Botham as panic sets in that it could miss the semi-finals after shock losses to Sri Lanka and Pakistan.

Former England batsman Allan Lamb said the hosts got their bowling tactics horribly wrong against Pakistan and labelled the batting against Sri Lanka “diabolical” and “bordering on arrogant”.

Botham set up England’s last World Cup win against Australia some 27 years ago with 4/31 and 53 (77) in Sydney, which knocked the Aussies out of their own tournament.

“Nothing gives the Aussies more pleasure than turning over the Poms at the home of cricket (Lord’s) and we need to invoke the spirit of Beefy from 1992.

Justin Langer has called on fans of all teams to lay off Warner and Smith.

“That night in Sydney haunted them for years. We’ve got to be careful that we don’t sleepwalk into a tight corner.

“Instead of having one foot in the semi-finals, England are looking over their shoulders.”

Originally published as Jonny Bairstow says fans booing Steve Smith and David Warner only same as taunts Stuart Broad received