Australian Players Request For More Security For Families For Headingley Test: Report

Headingley happens to be the home ground of Jonny Bairstow whose controversial stumping has attracted a lot of boos and even abuse towards the visiting Australian team.

Australia batter Steve Smith smiles during Australia nets ahead of the Third LV= Ashes Test Match at Headingley on July 04, 2023 in Leeds, England

Source : Getty Images

The third Test of the five-match Ashes series is all set to begin at the Headingley in Leeds on Thursday (July 6). While Australia are 2-0 ahead in the series, England would be more determined than ever before with the series on the line. A slip up here would cost England the Ashes with two Test matches to go, something which would they would not want, especially on home soil.

It has been a dramatic series already so far with the animated send off from Ollie Robinson to Usman Khawaja being the talking point from the first Test match before the stumping of Jonny Bairstow took all the attention from the second Test of the series at Lord's. Ever since the controversial dismissal of Bairstow on Day 5 of the Lord's Test, the visiting side has been receiving a lot of criticism and are getting booed and abuses from the fans wherever they are travelling.

And now prior to the Third Test match which is scheduled to be played at Bairstow's home, the Australian team has reportedly requested for extra security for their family members. The same has been claimed in a report carried by the Australian.

"The Australian cricket side has requested extra security be provided for families after abusive fans left one staff member's 11-year-old son in tears and forced one player's mother to leave the Lord's Ashes Test on the fifth day," the report quoted.



In addition, the report claimed that Steve Smith's mother was forced to leave the stadium early to remain away from fans who were continously taunting her. The fans did not know her relation with Smith but had recognised her nationality. It has also been claimed in the same report that three Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) members were suspended for apparently abusing the Australian cricketers.

However, the Test series is expected to continue despite all the noise on the outside. Australia were at the venue days ahead of the start of the third Test and had their usual training sessions before the start of the match. The visitors are one Test match victory away in the series to become the first Australian team to win an Ashes in England in 22 years.