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Australia have requested extra security for players’ families at the Headingley Test after several partners were verbally abused at Lord’s with children present.
The Marylebone Cricket Club is continuing investigations into the ugly scenes on day five, with three members already suspended for their actions in the long room.
But Cricket Australia is also unhappy with the treatment dished out to the families of players and staff in the seating outside the pavilion after Jonny Bairstow was stumped.
While there is no suggestion crowd members knew they were family members, the group also comprising children was allegedly sworn at, labelled cheats and endlessly abused as Australians.
The situation became so dire it prompted Steve Smith’s mother to leave the ground, with the abuse outside the pavilion said to be just as intense to what the players copped in the long room.
Australia fear the situation could be even worse at Headingley.
The ground is renowned for being one of the most hostile in the country and the response of England’s players since the Bairstow stumping has only fanned the flame.
As a result the tourists have asked for extra protection for players’ families at Leeds and want security to be more proactive than they were in London.
“We are in our partner period here, so lots of family and kids around,” Australia captain Pat Cummins said.
“I think there will be an extra eye on them where they are in the crowd to make sure everything is fine.”
Usman Khawaja confronts an MCC member in the Lord’s Long Room. (via Channel 9)
Cummins was again forced to defend the stumping of Bairstow at Wednesday’s pre-match press conference, with the Australian captain adamant it was out.
He said he was unbothered by claims he had breached the spirit of cricket and insisted the sport’s gentlemen’s code had little to do with the dismissal.
But Cummins did indicate he thought it was unfair for critics to continue to point to the 2018 ball-tampering scandal in attacking Australia’s behaviour.
“There has been talk this week about the underarm incident. That was 1970s. How far do you want to go back?” Cummins said.
“We’ve all moved on. The team did nothing wrong, so we’re all comfortable.
“The way our team has conducted themselves over the past couple of years has been flawless. We have been fantastic and I think that showed again at Lord’s.”
Cummins’ comments came after England captain Ben Stokes missed the chance to ask the crowd to act respectfully on Wednesday.
“I can’t really say do this or don’t do that. Everyone knows what the atmosphere is like here,” Stokes said.
“We know what it is like in Australia. It will be one of those things where we will have the home support right behind us.”
© AAP
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