Barmy Army boss issues warning to Aussies about predicted wild Headingley crowd for third Test
Barmy Army boss issues hilarious warning to Aussies about wild Headingley crowd ahead of third Test – as tourists demand extra security after family members were abused at Lord’s
- Fans of the Barmy Army will challenge Aussies in Headingley
- Comes after family members of Aussies were abused at Lord’s
- Western Terraces in Headingley are not for the faint hearted
- Australia only needs a third test draw to keep the urn
- No Ashes series won on English soil since 2001
Barmy Army spokesman George Gallantree has ominously stated that Australia should expect an explosive atmosphere from ball one of the third Ashes Test at Headingley.
Tensions between Pat Cummins’ men and England are at an all-time high following Jonny Bairstow’s controversial dismissal from Lord’s on day five of the second Test – and locals will do everything they can to intimidate tourists in Leeds on Thursday.
“It gets louder than a Taylor Swift concert on the Western Terraces in the afternoon after the fans have had a few Tetley Bitters,” Gallantree said. News Corp.
“Lord’s is more of a library compared to Headingley.”
Barmy Army supporters will be on hand as Australia seeks to win the Ashes on English soil for the first time since 2001.
Barmy Army representative George Gallantree has stated Australia should expect an explosive atmosphere from ball one of the third Ashes Test at Headingley (pictured, England fans at the first Ashes Test in 2023)
Wicket-keeper Alex Carey becomes public enemy number one after his stupid dismissal of Jonny Bairstow from Lord’s
A draw will be enough to silence the excited locals, and Cummins will no doubt tell its players to shut out the noise and be ruthless.
The warning from the Barmy Army comes after the verbal abuse against Lord’s Australian team during the second Ashes Test was so intense that Steve Smith’s mother left the ground.
Gillian Smith – who was at the cricket house with husband Peter – left her seat after being taunted by fans, according to The Australian.
The spectators were unaware of her connection to the former Test skipper and targeted her because of her nationality, the publication reported – adding that the 11-year-old son of an Australian team member of staff cried after he was also abused.
Australian players later huddled around the youngster on Lord’s balcony as a show of support.
As a result of the vitriol, the team has requested increased security when the parties meet in Headingley.
England star Joe Root has called on fans to reverse their treatment of the tourists, saying: ‘You come to support your country. It doesn’t have to go beyond that. It must never go further.’
Steve Smith’s mother, Gillian, was targeted by fans at Lord’s who didn’t know her connection to the superstar batsman, but picked up on her nationality
Smith (in the foreground, with teammate Marnus Labuschagne) was at the end of verbal abuse from Lord’s members in the famous Long Room on the ground
David Warner (in green cap, next to steward in blue jacket) and Usman Khawaja (right, in doorway) reacted to the abuse of a spectator at Lord’s in heated scenes
The abuse directed at Australian stars such as Usman Khawaja – who at one point asked security to deal with one of the members in the pavilion – stemmed from fans’ anger over Bairstow’s controversial firing.
Australia subsequently demanded an explanation from the Marylebone Cricket Club after players were abused – and two allegedly tripped by some members at the Lord’s Pavilion.
Footage from the Long Room as players left the field during lunch on the final day of play showed Australian stars being berated and labeled ‘cheats’ by several members.
Reports said the abuse included various expletives and calling players a “disgrace,” “liars,” and telling them to go home.
That prompted both Khawaja and David Warner to pull over and approach one man, before two stewards stepped in and led Warner away.
Play in Headingley’s third Test begins at 8pm AEST on Thursday.