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‘Always cheating’: Aussie freak in huge Ashes drama

Boos and an ugly chant rang out around Edgbaston after Cameron Green produced a moment of magic to leave England filthy.

James McKern and Tyson Otto
10 min read
June 19, 2023 - 8:35AM
Khawaja left bamboozled after bizarre field formation

Australia, we have a new Ashes villain.

The First Test is teetering on a knife’s edge at the close of Day Three, with England sitting just 35 runs ahead in the second innings.

The biggest drama happened early in the day with England’s Ollie Robinson being called out by cricket fans following his over the top send off after dismissing Usman Khawaja.

If you’re on the other side of the globe in the UK, it is a different story with Cameron Green being attacked by fans for his mercurial skills in the field.

Usman Khawaja’s 15th Test century was the highlight of Australia’s innings, but a promising display from England’s bowlers — coupled with some inventive field placements from Ben Stokes — saw the tourists all out for 386.

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After Khawaja was knocked over for 141, England took control of the innings. It is now up to their batsmen on the lifeless Birmingham deck to post an imposing total for Australia.

The Aussie attack had other ideas on Monday morning, taking two quick wickets to leave England sitting uncomfortably at 2/28 as the skies opened up.

The late controversy arrived in the final moments before play was abandoned with Australia taking its two critical wickets in the space of four balls in a brief period in between rain delays.

Cameron Green of Australia celebrates catching out Ben Duckett of England from the bowling of Pat Cummins. Photo: Getty.
Cameron Green of Australia celebrates catching out Ben Duckett of England from the bowling of Pat Cummins. Photo: Getty.

Green took a spellbinding catch, getting his left hand under the ball and wrapping it up before he went to ground, in the gully to remove Ben Duckett — but the English crowd instead started doubling its efforts to unsettle the Aussie all-rounder in the field.

It was sent upstairs for review but there was no doubting this one. English fans clearly remembered their recent history after Green was also accused of being a cheat by Indian fans for a similar diving catch he took during the World Test Championship final.

The Barmy Army could be heard booing when the wicket was confirmed by the TV umpire on the big screen.

“Same old Aussies, always cheating,” fans in the Hollies Stand were heard singing.

The English supporters didn’t have much to get excited about on Day 3 and were also heard calling Australia “cheats” when the Aussies earlier made several appeals for LBW without electing to use a DRS challenge when the umpires turned down the appeals.

SEN’s Adam Collins was in awe of Green’s movement, considering his towering height.

“I just don’t believe I’ve ever seen a (better) fielder in that position – acknowledging Joel Garner was clearly a brilliant gully fielder… but it just feels like Green is next level and he’s making gully fielding sexy again,” he said.

The day was marred by poor weather, but also a breach from Moeen Ali, who was caught using a drying agent on his hands on the boundary rope.

The English spinner will be fined 25 per cent of his match fee after breaching Article 2.20 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to displaying conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game.

During the 89th over on day two he was seen applying a drying agent to his bowling hand while fielding on the boundary rope.

There’s a lot of hate in Ollie Robinson’s eyes.
There’s a lot of hate in Ollie Robinson’s eyes.

While Ali will no doubt receive a hostile reception from Aussie fans next time he fields near the boundary, it is Robinson that will cop it the most.

Robinson was fired up after claiming the key wicket of Khawaja for 141, but it was what unfolded next that drew the ire of fans worldwide.

As the stumps sprayed outwards and Khawaja began the walk back to the rooms, Robinson with eyes glaring wide delivered a visceral spray to the Aussie opener.

He could be seen yelling “f*** off, you f***ing pr**k” directly at Khawaja.

SEN’s Adam Collins wasn’t a fan of the spray delivered by the English player.

“It just strikes me as so ill-considered and makes no sense to me,” Collins said.

“These two play with such great spirit, I am not sure that was in the spirit though.”

Robinson said at the end of the day his outburst had been “in the heat of the moment”.

“It’s my first home Ashes and to get the big wicket at the time was special for me,” Robinson told a post-play press conference.

“I think Ussie played unbelievably well. And to get that wicket for us at the time as a team was massive.” -

The 29-year-old added: “And I think we all want that theatre of the game, don’t we? So I’m here to provide it. I don’t really care how it’s perceived to be honest. It’s the Ashes, it’s professional sport. If you can’t handle that, what can you handle?”

Robinson, asked if abusing opponents was part of that “theatre” replied: “No, it’s not but I think when you’re in heat of the moment and you have the passion of the Ashes that can happen.

“I think we’ve all seen Ricky Ponting, other Aussies do the same to us. So just because the shoe’s on the other foot, it’s not received well.”

His words to Khawaja could land Robinson in trouble with match referee Andy Pycroft but the England man said: “I’m not going to comment on that.”

2.10am - Not good news at Edgbaston

The rain is still coming down. An inspection was due to take place at 2am but has been pushed to 2:30am.

An early Tea break has been taken.

12.52am - The rain is out and the covers are back on

Australia cashed in during the shortened session, taking 2/2 from only 22 deliveries.

Unfortunately the ran brought it all to a halt much to the delight of the Poms who were fighting with their backs against the wall in the conditions.

12.45am - Boland gets in on the act

The rain can’t come soon enough for England who find themselves in early trouble after Scott Boland sent Zak Crawley packing.

Crawley walked down the pitch but a perfect delivery nipped off the seam and caught the edge of his bat and flew into the gloves of Alex Carey behind the stumps.

12.35am - Cummins snares the first

Shortly after play got back underway it was the skipper who struck the first blow.

A ball delivered wide outside off stump lured Ben Duckett forward with the ball catching the edge and flying into the slip cordon.

Cameron Green added to his already extraordinary highlights package by plucking another cracking catch.

The ball went sharply to his left with the towering all-rounder getting his left hand under the ball and wrapping it up before he went to ground.

It was sent upstairs for review but there was no doubting this one.

Dark clouds are hanging overhead with another stoppage expected shortly.

11.15pm - The heavens have opened and the covers are on

With one ball remaning in the sixth over the umpires have waved in the groundsmen and the covers have gone over the wicket.

Pat Cummins wasn’t happy with the move as he stood at the top of his mark shaking his head.

11pm - Robinson called out over ugly send off

England’s Ollie Robinson has been called out by cricket fans following his over the top send off after dismissing Usman Khawaja.

Robinson was fired up after claiming the key wicket of Khawaja for 141, but it was what unfolded next that drew the ire of fans worldwide.

As the stumps sprayed outwards and Khawaja began the walk back to the rooms, Robinson with eyes glaring wide delivered a visceral spray to the Aussie opener.

He could be seen yelling “f*** off, you f***ing pr**k” directly at Khawaja.

SEN’s Adam Collins wasn’t a fan of the spray delivered by the English player.

“It just strikes me as so ill-considered and makes no sense to me,” Collins said.

“These two play with such great spirit, I am not sure that was in the spirit though.”

10.50pm - Australia instantly go defensive, again

England’s second innings is underway and the Aussies have come out in similar fashion to how the Test match started.

Pat Cummins’ first over saw a man station on the rope at deep backward point with a similar set up for Josh Hazlewood’s first spell.

The defensive field setups drew heavy backlash during the opening day and haven’t sat well with those watching on.

NRL supremo Phil Gould wrote: “First over of the second innings. Why have we set such a defensive field? Saving runs? What are we scared of? Get some wickets.”

The Nationals’ head of media Mark Stevens wrote: “These defensive fields absolute rubbish.”

10pm - Aussie innings ends at 386

The cheers sounded out from the stands after Aussie skipper Pat Cummins became the final wicket to fall with Australia shy of England’s first innings total by seven runs.

Australia looked to be in control to move past the Poms’ total, but Ben Stokes threw caution to the win with some brazen tactics that got under the skin of his rivals.

It saw the Aussies falter and lose the final four wickets for only 14 runs.

9.55pm - Boland sent packing by Broad

A perfectly placed bouncer from Stuart Broad got the better of Scott Boland.

Boland was caught jumping on his back foot trying to defend the high rising delivery, only to softly drop it into the hands of Ollie Pope under the helmet.

9.50pm - Lyon falls as the Poms close in

Nathan Lyon went for it and made cracking contact on a pull shot off the bowling of Ollie Robinson.

Unfortunately for the Aussie spinner the contact wasn’t enough to get it beyond the rope as it sailed into the hands of Ben Duckett on the boundary.

Two wickets until the change of innings with the Aussies still trailing by 16 runs.

9.35pm - England going wild in the field

The Poms are using an infamous fielding method used more frequently in the Test Match board game than what you’d normally find in real life cricket.

Looking to snare the key wicket of Usman Khawaja they’ve thrown caution to the wind and surrounded the leg side with three fielders with another three on the off side in close.

The bizarre field mattered little however as Khawaja was bowled by Ollie Robinson after being beaten following a dance down the wicket.

Khawaja’s innings comes to an end after 141 runs from 321 deliveries.

8.40pm - Aussies cashing in on struggling spinner

Moeen Ali is serving up the pies and the Aussies are feasting on them.

Pat Cummins sent him into the stands twice in one over coming only a handful of overs after Usman Khawaja danced down the wicket and sent him into the crowd.

Ali departed the field shortly after and was seen heading into the England rooms inspecting his right index finger and showing it to the coaching group.

8.25pm - Anderson knocks over Carey

James Anderson has one-upped Stuart Broad by knocking back the stumps while staying behind the crease.

After an early missed chance on Alex Carey went begging, Anderson struck with a peach of a delivery.

Bowling around the wicket the Englishman got the ball to swing back through the gate and slam into the top of middle stump.

It snaps a partnership of 118 for the Aussies, leaving them 55 runs behind with four wickets in hand.

8.15pm - England star found guilty of rule breach

England all-rounder Moeen Ali has been struck down by the ICC after being found guilty for breaching the Code of Conduct.

The English spinner will be fined 25 per cent of his match fee after breaching Article 2.20 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to displaying conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game.

During the 89th over on day two he was seen applying a drying agent to his bowling hand while fielding on the boundary rope.

Moeen Ali caught out cheating
Moeen Ali caught out cheating

8.05pm - Early chance goes missing

Jonny Bairstow is looking for the nearest hole to hide in after dropping a chance in the opening over of the day.

Alex Carey looked to hoist James Anderson over the infield and to the rope only for the ball to catch his inside edge and fly to Bairstow.

Having to dive back to his right the keeper got his glove to the ball but badly misjudged it as it thundered into his wrist before hitting the turf.

It’s the third chance Bairstow has missed in this first Australian innings and robbed England of a perfect start to the day.

7.40pm - Broad laments ‘soulless’ pitch

The Edgbaston pitch has resembled a flat ODI pitch, with runs flowing but wickets have been hard to come by.

There hasn’t been much swing for either side’s bowlers, despite some overcast conditions at times in Birmingham.

England bowler Stuart Broad lamented the fact the pitch isn’t offering much bounce and variation for the bowlers.

“It is a very slow, low surface that saps the energy out of the ball,” he told the BBC.

“It is pretty characterless so far, pretty soulless, but you can only judge a surface towards the end of the match and see how it develops.

“It is certainly one of the slowest pitches I can remember bowling on in England. It has been hard work for the seamers and ultimately we are looking to entertain, have fun and get the crowd jumping and it is quite a difficult pitch to get play-and-misses on and nicks to slip.

“So hopefully it is not a trend for the whole series.”

Stuart Broad isn’t a fan of the Edgbaston pitch. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
Stuart Broad isn’t a fan of the Edgbaston pitch. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Broad committed cricket’s cardinal sin when he clean bowled Khawaja on a no-ball, overstepping the crease by a fraction.

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“It was a great ball and it’s very hard to put it at the back of your mind,” Broad said.

“Ultimately, it’s really frustrating.

“It was a close call, but it’s still a no ball. You can’t do anything about it now and you just have to find your rhythm and keep hitting the pitch hard.”

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Original URL: https://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/ashes-1st-test-day-3-live-england-villain-blasts-soulless-pitch/news-story/e15a2520e9f6f68155f94421bd64b372