Security beefed up as Aussies set for Ashes battle
Fans arriving at Leeds ahead of the opening of the third test have been given a firm warning. See why tensions are high.
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At daybreak on the first day of the third Ashes test at Leeds, crash barriers were erected along the feeder streets to the ground as bus loads of security officers arrived at the stadium.
Officers handling sniffer dogs from global G4S security and “sprinting” stewards carrying deck chairs filed into the ground.
Staff and early fans arriving at the ground were searched by security and gently reminded of the code of conduct, to “have a good day and behave.”
It comes as the febrile atmosphere that has dominated the Ashes series with the dismissal of Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s continues to rage, you would expect wicketkeeper Alex Carey to be keeping a low profile away from angry British eyes.
But before practice on the eve of the third test at Leeds, he was browsing the shelves of food store Marks & Spencer with his son chatting animatedly to staff at the Yorkshire train station looking the epitome of relaxed.
Thursday will be a different story when the Ashes action takes place at Bairstow’s home ground of Headingley for the first day of the third Test when the Australian at the centre of the stumping furore that has sent British tensions reaching fever pitch with players urging fans to get behind their own team and stop their barracking of Australia’s players.
The visitors have requested extra security for the match after the ugly scenes at Lord’s Long Room and on Wednesday, at 7pm local time, explosive detection dogs from global G4S security firm were drafted in at the 19,700 capacity Headingley stadium to beef up security, adding to the “sprinting stewards” recruited to wrestle troublemakers and additional stewards for the England v Australia match.
Extra security officers will be deployed to the ground’s western terrace renowned for the liveliest stands in the country.
“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.
“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.”
Australian captain Pat Cummins is wary of a repeat of the caustic atmosphere that settled over the series on day five in the second Test when fans turned on Australia after Bairstow’s dismissal on Sunday.
“We haven’t spoken about it…We are in our partner period here, so lots of family and kids are around,” he told a Leeds press conference on Wednesday.
“There will be an extra eye on them (England fans) where they are in the crowd to make sure everything is fine.”
England Support group The Barmy Army had no qualms whipping up the fans and warned Australia to brace itself at Headingley as they seek an Ashes-clinching win.
“The Headingley crowd is usually a louder, noisier crowd, let’s put it that way,” said managing director of the Barmy Army support fans group, 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, - and 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,” he added.
Ben Stokes, captain of an England team now 2-0 down in the series, stopped short of telling supporters to stop taunting the Aussies and urged them to get behind their own nation.
“I can’t really comment around what to say, do this, and don’t do that,” he told the conference.
“I just think everyone knows what the atmosphere is like here. We know what the atmosphere is like in Australia. So yeah. But I think it’s just going to be one of those things where we will have the home support fully behind us.”
Off the pitch tensions between the rival sporting nations continued to simmer.
Father and son Jackson and Neil Woodward, from Melbourne talked cricket on the three-and-a-half train ride from London to Leeds and they plan to dress in gold T-shirts and matching caps when they are picked up by Australian Sports Tours for their bus ride with Aussies to the ground on Thursday morning.
“Bairstow missed his chance, end of story, but, now, it’s about putting the Poms back in their place,” said Neil, 62.
“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?” he said, to the raised eyebrows from an elderly British couple in the seat opposite.
“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.
“And Bairstow stumped Samit Patel in 2014 and the now England coach Brendon McCullum ran out Muttiah Muralitharan in a Test match in Christchurch in 2008 when was celebrating his partner’s century,” he said.
“Bring it on, I’m not toning anything down, I’m going to Headingley dressed all in pure gold,” he said.
The Yorkshire County Cricket Club said its extra security measures are 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.
“We have been planning our security and stewarding for the Ashes for some time. Clearly, some incidents at Lords have heightened the interest and exposure of the third test.
“We are working closely with both the ECB and West Yorkshire Police to ensure our safety measures are proportionate for this fixture.”
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