Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne in fresh confrontation with Ashes spectator
The two Aussie cricket stars were less than impressed by the reception from the England fan during the final Ashes Test.
Amateur footage has emerged on social media showing an ugly confrontation between an England fan and Aussie players Usman Khawaja and Marnus Labuschagne during the fifth Ashes Test at The Oval. The incident was captured on smart phone at stumps on day three as the Aussie players were walking back off the ground.
Labuschagne was walking in front of Khawaja up the stairs to the dressing rooms when a man in the stands leant over and appeared to shout "boring" in their faces. Labuschagne either didn't hear or chose to ignore it the first time but turned around to confront the man when yelled out again - this time in Khawaja's face - prompting the Aussie batter to stop and question him.
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"What did you say mate?" Labuschagne could be heard asking before Khawaja told the man to "calm down". The spectator appeared to offer an apology to the players after realising he'd crossed a line.
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
Other fans and players looked concerned by the heated scenes before Labuschagne said: "You were just about to go at everyone else," pointing to the rest of his teammates. Khawaja quickly threw an arm around Labuschagne and promptly ushered him off in the direction of the dressing rooms.
Usman Khawaja hits out about crowd abuse
It was the latest fiery incident that Khawaja has found himself at the centre of, having been abused by members of the MCC during the second Test at Lord's. Three members of the MCC were suspended for that ugly altercation that came in the wake of the Jonny Bairstow stumping controversy.
The Aussies have copped a raft of abuse from fans throughout the Ashes series in the UK, with the tourists often labelled 'cheats' by spectators in England. Khawaja said earlier this month he was concerned about the behaviour of fans and bringing his children to watch matches in such an environment.
"If I am coming to the cricket and watching the cricket, I wouldn't want my kids to be around that," Khawaja said. "If I saw that I would 100 per cent make a complaint or just leave. Some of the stuff can be pretty poor.
"Over at Edgbaston they were calling Travis Head a c***, you know what. I can't believe you can actually say that in a public domain anywhere.
"I know, watching a lot of sport and loving sport, that it happens around the world. It can be a little disappointing at times. We can take it too far in Australia. I'm not a big fan of it."
Usman Khawaja and David Warner give Aussies advantage
Khawaja looks set to finish the Ashes series as the leading run-scorer after he and fellow opener David Warner put on just their second century stand together for Australia on day four at The Oval. Chasing 384 to win the fifth Test and take the series 3-1, Australia moved to 0-135 on Sunday before rain washed out the final half of the fourth day.
The Aussies need a further 249 more runs to seal what would be Australia's first Ashes series victory in England since 2001. Khawaja will resume on 69, with Warner on 58 as the pair look to help the tourists pull off the highest-ever successful fourth-innings chase at The Oval.
A draw will also be enough for Australia to win the series 2-1, particularly if more rain intervenes and the day is shortened from the 98 overs currently available on day five. Warner was able to get through two separate spells against the retiring Stuart Broad, in the last head-to-head battle between the veteran stars.
The left-hander drove Broad for four through the offside in the opening over, and later survived a chest-high beamer from James Anderson when he ran it down to the third-man rope. He looked a bit scrathy early on but Warner upped the ante after lunch, slog-sweeping Joe Root for four as one of nine boundaries.
Much has been made of Warner's form and future at the top of the order but if the 36-year-old is able to push Australia towards victory at The Oval, it will almost certainly lock him in for his dream farewell retirement at the SCG in January. Khawaja looked even more composed than Warner, with his only moment of concern a short ball from Mark Wood that hit him on the back of the helmet.
Khawaja passed 5000 Test runs just before the rain delay, a remarkable feat given his career looked over two years ago when he was yet to reach the 3000-run milestone. If Australia wins the match, it will mark the second-highest run-chase in their Test history and the eighth-best of all time.
with agencies
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