The Ashes 2023
‘This in their world is probably within ‘Spirit of cricket’ – Fans react as Headingley crowd troll Steve Smith with ‘crying’ masks during his 100th Test in Ashes 2023
Australia lost a thrilling Test match by 3 wickets to England at Headingley on Sunday. The fast-bowling duo of Chris Woakes and Mark Wood ensured that there would be no more hiccups during a tense run chase. Woakes made a very handy 32 off 47 balls with four fours. Wood complemented Woakes with a valuable 16 off 8 balls with one four and one six. This win for the Three Lions at Headingley has opened their winning account in the Ashes.
On another note, the Barmy Army were in full force after England’s win. They did not let their spirits down despite the fact that the Three Lions had lost the first two matches in Ashes 2023. The fan club was seen wearing crying masks which had Steve Smith’s face. They put them on to take potshots at Smith. This was a reference to the time when Smith cried after he was banned for one year by Cricket Australia (CA) after the ball-tampering scandal in 2018 at Cape Town.
Smith did not have the best of times with the bat in his hundredth Test as well. He. was caught behind by Jonny Bairstow off Stuart Broad for 22 off 31 balls with one four and one six in the first innings. In the second innings, he was caught by Ben Duckett off Moeen Ali for just 2 off 9 balls. Smith played his hundredth Test at Headingley and it was a game that he would like to forget.
The pitch at Headingley was as green as the outfield and the pitch provided assistance to the batters and also the fast bowlers. Australia could muster only 263 in the first innings courtesy of a run a ball of 118 from Mitchell Marsh. Wood picked up 5-34 in his 11.4 over spell for England. The Three Lions folded up for 237 in their first innings to give Australia a 26-run lead. The Kangaroos in the second innings made 224.
Travis Head was the chief contributor for Australia in the second innings as he made 77 off 112 balls with seven fours and three sixes. In the fourth innings, England rode on the batting heroics of Harry Brook who made a cracking 75 off 93 balls with nine fours to ensure the Three Lions get their first Ashes win in the series.
Let us take a look at the reactions on Twitter:
Football crowd fever creeping into cricket! The English crowd is rather 'in'famous for their ridiculous chants in the English Premier League, this is not even 1% of what happens in football! 😅
— 𝐘𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐢 (@embarkandrise) July 9, 2023
— PEACE (@peace_128482) July 10, 2023
That's what makes ashes rivalry the best 🔥😎
— The_cricket (@The_cricket18) July 10, 2023
Absolutely. And then few talk about the 'spirit of the game'.
Let's remind them that, 2019 Ashes series is a comeback year of Steve Smith where he scored 774 runs with an average of 110+
The comeback that the world will remember for ages. Master of 'test cricket' @stevesmith49— A (@AnkitShah09) July 10, 2023
You will never get what Ashes and this rivalry means to people from both countries!
Even if England were 4-0 doen you will still see this thing happening— Ik Sabbir (@sabbir_ik) July 10, 2023
Just one of the challenges of playing in England.
— Kaustub Patel (@KaustubPatel7) July 10, 2023
In the end it doesn't matter Smith is a legend 🇦🇺🔥
— Jay Joshi💫 (@Legend_Forever7) July 10, 2023
I think the context is Aus media calling England team crybabies…
— Shaheen Taori (@Mai_bhi_expert) July 9, 2023
yeh to eng aus meh to hota hi hai. Aus ka stadium mein itna hi banter hota hai. Oldest rivalry in cricket (essentially between cousins!).
— JPanimals (@PanimalsJ) July 9, 2023
You’ll love this then 😂 pic.twitter.com/wgGeI4qZJB
— Ben (@pieman80) July 9, 2023