Watch: As Australia walked back off the field after the third day’s play at the Kia Oval, Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne briefly confronted a spectator who had been shouting at the Australia players as they returned to the dressing room.
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The second day of the fifth Test match of the 2023 Ashes ended in Australia getting bowled out after securing a 12-run lead in the first innings.
The small margin does not reveal the contrasting approach by the two sides: while England made their 283 runs at 5.17, Australia got their 295 at 2.85. England ended the third day at 389-9, amassed at 4.87. Their lead stood at 377.
As the Australian team walked back to the pavilion, a fan had a go, calling them “boring” – taking a dig at, presumably, Australia’s scoring rate in the Test match. Even across the first four Test matches, England had scored at 4.61 – a rate significantly quicker than Australia’s not-too-slow 3.20.
The comment did not sit well with Khawaja, who requested the fan to “calm down”.
“What did you say? What did you say mate?” added Labuschagne, to which the fan apologised. “You’re just about to go at everyone else,” added Labuschagne.
It is worth a mention that earlier this month, the MCC suspended three members for hurling abuse at the Australia players – Khawaja and David Warner in particular – at tea on the fifth day of the Lord’s Test
On the fourth morning, England could add only six to their overnight score of 389-9 before Todd Murphy (4-110) trapped James Anderson leg-before. The runs – a six off Mitchell Starc – were the last of the illustrious Test career of Stuart Broad, who announced retirement after the third day’s cricket.
Watch Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne confront a spectator:
Not quite the MCC Long Room at Lords. But @marnus3cricket and @Uz_Khawaja clearly not happy with this Englishman at the end of a frustrating day 3 for the Aussies! #boring #Ashes #ENGvsAUS pic.twitter.com/i0m5wM8bUY
— Pat McCormick (@pat_mccormickk) July 30, 2023
