When England cricketers Ben Stokes and Ben Duckett walked back to the Lord’s pavilion on Saturday evening at the end of day four of the second Test, the realists among the English media were starting to prepare for the beginning of the end.
A limp England defeat was being predicted, meaning that the Ashes looked destined to
head back to Australia and the press pack was in for a long summer of filing drab reports on dead-rubber matches.
While the explosive events of day five on Sunday may ultimately not alter the outcome of this series, no one is predicting that it will fizzle out now.
The Aussies head to Leeds for the third Test 2-0 up but under extreme pressure after the controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow reignited this contest.
Alex Carey’s act – while within the laws of the game – has enraged England fans to the extent that even the sedate setting of the Lord’s Long Room bore witness to ugly scenes more often seen in football stadiums.
No one wishes to see a repeat at Headingley or God forbid anything worse, so it is pleasing to read that security is being stepped up to make sure the Australian team are kept safe. But expect the boos to ring out on Thursday morning when they take to the field.
For an English cricketing public that had only just got over the 2018 “Sandpapergate” cheating scandal, the message will be loud and clear – welcome to hell, Aussies.
