Yorkshire are on red alert for any crowd trouble aimed towards the Aussie team at Headingley this week.
Discussions have already been had between the club and West Yorkshire Police to ensure that the plans in place are robust enough to deal with any potential trouble. The reaction of the Lord’s crowd to the Aussies on Sunday was hostile and abusive with three Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) members having their membership suspended for their behaviour in the pavilion.
Within mintues of the finish though, the term ‘Western Terrace’ was trending on Twitter, as a nod to the sort of reception that the Aussies can expect up North. But Yorkshire are determined that the game will take place without a hitch, and even though the players don’t have to enter the ground through fans in the same way, they will make sure there is little chance of a flashpoint.
A spokesperson said: “The Ashes is a truly special occasion, and we want everybody visiting Headingley to have an incredible time watching first class cricket at our iconic venue.
“The wellbeing of players, officials and spectators is paramount, and we are implementing appropriate measures to do everything within our control to keep everyone safe.
“Clearly, some incidents at Lords have heightened the interest and exposure of the third test. We will continue to work closely with both the ECB and West Yorkshire Police to ensure our safety measures are proportionate for this fixture.”
The Australian team will be briefed on the measures in already planned meetings ahead of the game and will have the chance to raise any concerns if they feel any area presents a risk.
Australia star Usman Khawaja in particular was involved in a heated exchange with one MMC member in the Lord's long room and soon explained his reasoning for biting back. "Some of the stuff coming out of members’ mouths was really disappointing. I wasn't going to stand by and cop it," Khawaja declared on Sunday evening, with Australia now one victory away from a series win.
"A few of them were throwing out some pretty big allegations and if they kept going, well it's your membership. I expect a lot better from the members."
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The MCC later suspended three members and released a statement condemning their behaviour. Australia captain Pat Cummins also responded to the incident and revealed: "The MCC came and apologised for the behaviour of some of the members. I think some of them might lose their membership over the way they behaved.
"Other than that one time, they were fantastic all week. The members here are normally fantastic and really welcoming. Something special about playing at Lord's is you feel like you're at a really special place surrounded by people who just share a love of the game."
