Angry Aussie Ashes stars Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne confront fan in the stands after he hits them with a one-word sled: “What did you say, mate?”
- Ashes series is heated
- There have been repeated incidents with fans
- Aussie players have had enough
Video has emerged of more fan abuse in a heated Ashes series, with Aussie players Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne confronting a heckler during the Fifth Test at The Oval.
Footage shows the Aussie players returning to the changing cubicles on day three of the final Ashes Test, which is at stake on the way to the final day of play.
It features an agitated fan relentlessly abusing every member of the Aussie side until Khawaja and Labuschagne stop to call him out.
The exchange went like this:
Unnamed man: ‘Boring! Boring! Boring! Boring!’
Labuschagne: “What did you say, mate?”
Usman: “Take it easy, take it easy.”
Labuschagne: ‘Hey, hey, oi! *whistle*’
Unnamed man: ‘My apologies’
Labuschagne: “You were about to take everyone.”
It had been a difficult day in the field for the Australians and Labuschagne was in no mood for more fan chatter
The unnamed heckler chanted ‘boring’ at the Aussie cricket team, returning Labuschagne to service before being ushered off by teammate Khawaja
Khawaja then led his teammate up the stairs and the heckler stopped his tirade against the rest of the players.
It is the latest incident of bad fan behavior in the Ashes series, which also saw several Lord’s members suspended for abusing Aussie cricketers.
During the second Ashes test, the Australian cricketer confronted Khawaja and pointed out MCC members he wanted to be kicked out of Lord’s after their hostile behavior towards the Australian team.
He was seen protesting to English fans in the Long Room, asking security to remove specific individuals who had allegedly booed and called the Aussies cheats.
Although that incident involved English supporters and Lord’s members, there is some suggestion that the last heckler may have been Australian.
“Sounds Aussie to me,” posted Barmy Army trumpeter Simon Finch.
‘Little bit of debate whether old buddy is Pom or Aussie. Anyway, strange behavior as Aus is leading 2-1.’ McCormick posted.
‘Apologies if he’s Aussie, period – They’re not there to play t20 cricket for the public’s enjoyment. “Boring” is hardly an insult, but don’t melt in water when called.
Some cricket fans slammed the unknown heckler for not understanding Test cricket.
‘Another boring day tripper with no interest in cricket. Imagine going to watch some of the best players in the world at a top sporting event and pretend you’re bored. It was another brilliant test. What do people want?’ one fan asked.
Khawaja was involved in another incident of bad fan behavior when Lord’s members ruthlessly mistreated the Australian cricketers, including chanting ‘cheat’ at them
It was a heated Ashes series on and off the pitch, with occasional fans from both countries
The latest incident was caused by slow overruns, leading the England side – including retired pace bowler Stuart Broad – to be fined twice.
Others thought fans had every right to be offended by the consistently low rates during the Ashes series.
“He was right – going with 3 over and a slow overspeed to bring the game to a halt is boring and a rip off,” another fan wrote.
“Fans should see 90 overs a day and they are shortchanged by 10+ overs a day when Australia is in the field. It’s not like it’s an accident either.’
Both Australia and England were charged 40 per cent of their match fees and penalized two World Test Championship points each for undercharging in the first Test at Edgbaston.
England players then had their full match money docked at Lord’s for under-rates.