Ben Stokes says Australians won’t get a nice reception in third Test

Abusive members during the Lord’s Test were matched by upset English players after the game and captain Ben Stokes says scrutiny will follow Australia everywhere.

Hostile could be an understatement for the sort of reception Australian players could get at Headingley for the third Test according to England captain Ben Stokes, who says feelings will be “ramped up” after an unforgettably fiery clash at Lord’s.

Three MCC members were suspended for abusing the Australians, English bowler Stuart Broad was in a running battling with the tourists during his final-day innings and post-match his coach Brendon McCullum declared much of the friendliness between the two teams had evaporated.

The heightened tension resulted from a controversial run-out of English batter Johnny Bairstow by Australian keeper Alex Carey after he left his crease early, which both Stokes and McCullum said was something their team would not have done.

McCullum said the Australians had to “live with the decisions you make”, escalating an already highly emotional series, and Stokes said when the Australians got to Leeds both the hometown crowd, and the English players, would be unrelenting in making the visitors as uncomfortable as possible.

”I definitely think it’s going to be ramped up,” said Stokes, who nearly took his team to victory with a swashbuckling 155.

“Australia have had their past and have come here a few times since and I think they’re all used to the English crowd.

Stuart Broad had a running battle with Marnus Labuschagne. Picture: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images

“When we go to Australia we get lambasted as well. Look, I think that‘s part of the sport we play. You get thousands of people who want their team to win and they’ll just jump on something.

“We get it in Australia: 90,000 Australians at the MCG all cursing at you. It’s part of the job.”

Australian captain Pat Cummins, who defended the run-out call from Carey and even suggested it was premeditated, said his team was ready for what’s to come and wouldn’t be fazed by it.

He also said from his perspective the two teams, despite the running clashes with Broad and the post-match comments from the home team, were still “amicable”.

“It seems like every Ashes has some drama to it – even one-sided Ashes in the past, things get stoked up halfway through a series,” Cummins said.

Stuart Broad made his thoughts on the Bairstow dismissal clear 👀#ENGvAUS | #Ashespic.twitter.com/AHgAudM3dI

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 2, 2023

“It just feels like you’ve got two old rivals who are playing against each other. Is it going to change anything? I don’t think so.

“I don’t think it’ll change anything for us. I think we’re still amicable, so we’ll see how it plays out. Being up two-nil is something we should be really proud of. I don’t feel like this series needed any more attention because there’s a lot going on – but maybe there is some more.”