Ashes third test: Aussie cricket fans riled up as tensions mount on day one
Aussie cricket fans have been taunted by their English counterparts as the third test kicked off. See how tensions are rising at Leeds.
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Tensions were running high and a tone of “hostility” had crept over the stands at Headingley stadium during the opening day of the third Ashes Test in Leeds.
British and Australian fans could only agree on one thing – the atmosphere was tense.
At 11.04am, just four minutes after the start of play, Headingley’s western terrace, renowned for the liveliest stands in the country, erupted into choruses of boos.
The British cheered aggressively. A trumpet blasted the Beatles’ Twist and Shout.
Aussie batsman David Warner was caught out at second slip by Zak Crawley off the bowling of his long-term nemesis Stuart Broad in the first over.
The anticipation had been palpable.
“There’s gentle clapping but underneath it feels nasty,” said self-confessed “cricket nuftie” Leonie Leonard from Avoca Beach, Sydney, NSW.
“Earlier one of the England fans said to me ‘suck my c***’, I thought, ‘are you kidding me? I’m 55 years old’.”
“That’s never happened before and I’ve been going to test matches since I was eight,” she added.
“I’m cheering Australians hard today. Ben Stokes’ innings was brilliant, you have to admit – but I’m not toning down anything, I’m admiring good cricket for good cricket.”
Australian fan Barry Wood, 66, from Victoria, stood up and shouted, “We’re going to win, don’t worry Pommies – just look at the scoreboard (2-0)… bring it on,” he bellowed.
At midday local time, Usman Khawaja was bowled out by Englishman Mark Wood.
The British corner erupted into chants of “Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio.”
English cricket fan Jamie Howarth, 27, from Yorkshire, said: “I’ve not seen this kind of hostility at this time of the day before – not before the pints kick in.
“It’s because of what happened at the second test.
“It’s a gentleman’s sport, cricket, it shouldn’t kick off but this doesn’t feel too good.”
Stuart Broad revved up the crowd for his first ball to Mitch Marsh just before lunch.
The crowd was baying for blood.
“I’m loving this, I’m not going to hold back from taunting the Brits, mate, it’s safety in numbers…” said Australian fan Billy Jack, from the Gold Coast.
“Look at those Pommies over there in their striped prison outfits - they think they’re taking the p**s,” he said pointing to an English crowd in prison break onesies in the Western Terrace.
“I’m confident we’re going to win, all the Brits are good at is cheating and whingeing,” said Aaron Morris, from Queensland.
Queenslander Suzanne Dousset was more circumspect.
“I’m here with my daughter Deborah and the Ashes 2023 tour was supposed to be a trip of a lifetime, it’s on our bucket list, and, to be honest, the jeering was bad before the stumping row, the crowds were really rude at Edgbaston,” she said.
“They don’t stop the crescendo, they’re loud. In Australia we stop when the bowler gets to his time. It was horrendous.
“We love banter, I don’t mind them calling us cheats and convicts.
“I’m almost regretting coming, when Deb and I are on our own, they call us names.”
The tense atmosphere had been expected.
Cricket officials were on Thursday “planning for the worst and hoping for the best” as warring Australian and English fans descended on Leeds for the third Ashes Test.
Extra security guards and explosive detection dogs were drafted in to patrol the 19,700-capacity Headingley stadium, after Sunday’s controversial dismissal of English batsman Jonny Bairstow prompted outcry from English fans.
A tinderbox was set to ignite, with Britain’s Barmy Army warning they would be “louder and noisier” and Australian supporters donning full country colours, pledging “not to tone anything down”.
Australian captain Pat Cummins was wary of a repeat of the caustic atmosphere at Lord’s but acknowledged there would be “an extra eye on (England fans) … in the crowd to make sure everything is fine”.
The ground’s western terrace — the site of a shameful fight last year between fans during England’s Test match against New Zealand — was being patrolled, while additional “sprinting stewards” were recruited to restrain potential troublemakers.
“We are normally at large events and we’ve been searching vehicles coming in and out and goods vans, the whole stadium,” said one security guard at the ground in Yorkshire.
“It kicked off at Lord’s and Wimbledon, and this is cricket, the Ashes, fans get emotional, especially after a few drinks, around 3pm.
“We’ve been told to plan for the worst this year and hope for the best. The dogs are mostly here to act as a deterrent … you just never know.”
The Yorkshire County Cricket Club said its extra security measures were to fulfil the “paramount” need to protect the “wellbeing of players, officials and spectators”.
“We are implementing appropriate measures to do everything within our control to keep everyone safe,” a club spokesman said, noting they were also working with West Yorkshire Police.
“We have been planning our security and stewarding for the Ashes for some time. Clearly, some incidents at Lord’s have heightened the interest and exposure of the third Test.”
Melbourne father and son Jackson and Neil Woodward were dressing in gold T-shirts and matching caps for the game, saying they were “not toning anything down”.
“Bairstow missed his chance, end of story, but now it’s about putting the Poms back in their place,” Neil, 62, said.
“How much better would Australian cricket even be if the Poms hadn’t killed our fair share of good cricketers in World War I and World War II?”
“It’s hypocritical of England to call us cheats and claim it was not in the spirit of cricket when they used the same tactic two days earlier,” said Jackson, 31.
“Bring it on, I’m not toning anything down, I’m going to Headingley dressed all in pure gold.”
More than one hundred Aussie cricket fans, all swathed in green and gold, piled onto their Australian Sports Tours bus for their ride to the ground on Thursday morning.
Michael Dicker, 43, from Gladstone, Queensland, was nervous. A few early wickets to boost Australia’s Ashes fortune would settle his nerves, he said.
“I want Australia to win but I’m here more for the banter – I want the Barmy Army to sing, they weren’t allowed to a Lord’s,” he said with head in his hands.
“I’ve got my own song for the Brits, ‘same old Pommies, always whingeing,’” he said.
Colin Spencer, 42, from Rockhampton, Queensland, was more confident.
“We’re going to win, there’s no doubt,” he said.
“I’m only here for one reason. And I want to go home soon, it’s flipping nippy here.”
Simon Farrell, 54, from Geelong, Victoria, said he was excited for the game.
“I’m excited, there’s no doubt Australia is going to win, we’re already two nil in,” he said.
“With all the controversy, it’s gonna be an exciting day’s play on and off the pitch.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the Barmy Army, they can carry on a bit, but hopefully, once Australia has won, it will all have been in good spirits, and we can all have a beer in the pub afterwards,” he said.
Aaron Morris, from the Gold Coast, Queensland, joked, “it’s time we shut those whingeing Poms up”.
“We are here to win, let’s get on with it, come in Australia,” he said, proudly punching the air in his gold and yellow cap.
British fans said the fiercely patriotic atmosphere at Headingley could help steer England back from its current two-game loss.
“The Headingley crowd is usually a louder, noisier crowd, let’s put it that way,” said Barmy Army managing director Chris Millard.
“There are still going to be quite a few upset people at Headingley and it will be a very lively atmosphere to say the least … that potentially could play quite a pivotal part in the result, and I’m hoping that’s an English benefit.
“You just get that real sense of togetherness at Headingley and community and they will get behind the team.
“Yorkshire is a very proud cricketing county and tensions will run high.”
English captain Ben Stokes stopped short of telling supporters to refrain from taunting Australia.
“I can’t really comment around what to say, do this, and don’t do that,” he told a pre-match press conference.
“I just think everyone knows what the atmosphere is like here. We know what the atmosphere is like in Australia. I think it’s just going to be one of those things where we will have the home support fully behind us.”
Before practice on the eve of the Test, a relaxed Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey was seen browsing the shelves of food store Marks & Spencer with his son, chatting animatedly to staff.
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