At the end of the first day’s play of the 5th Ashes Test, an unfortunate incident occurred. With the last Ashes 2023 Test hanging in the balance, former skipper Ricky Ponting and fellow Sky Sports commentator Ian Ward were chatting with off-spinner Todd Murphy. The conversation was about to come to an end when Ward told Murphy that he should leave as some ‘rowdy’ English fans were pelting grapes at Murphy and Ponting.
Ricky Ponting was visibly angry with the behaviour of the fans and said, “Someone just hit me with a grape. I wouldn’t mind finding out who that was actually.”
This isn’t the first time English fans have taken it too far. Ever since Steve Smith and David Warner returned after their ball-tampering scandal, both have been welcomed with ‘boos’ and calls of ‘cheats’.
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During the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, English fans chanted that Australian players were ‘cheats’ after Alex Carey stumped wicketkeeper batter Jonny Bairstow.
With English fans questioning the ‘spirit of the cricket’ of Aussies, it seems like English fans don’t adhere to their own rules.
Australia are currently leading the five-match series 2-1 and have a golden opportunity to win an away Ashes series after 22 years.
England started the 5th Ashes Test Day 1 well, but two batting collapses saw the hosts bundled out for over 300. England were 62-0 but lost three wickets in the next four overs. Moeen Ali and Harry Brook then stitched together a 111-run stand, only to lose four wickets in nine overs. Australia, in response, lost just one wicket in 25 overs, making 61 runs, and would be a happier side after Day 1.
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