The ongoing first Ashes Test has been one of the most entertaining games in the longest format of late. The game has lived up to its expectation as even after a hard-fought battle nearly for four days, there is still every chance that either of the teams can win the Test match still. And if that was not enough, the fans have chimed in their own unique ways to cheer for their teams.
In the same vein, the English crowd has been as lively as the players chirping against each other on the field. On the fourth day during Australia’s fielding in the second innings, the crowd spotted Steve Smith at the infamous Eric Hollies stand at the venue of Edgbaston. They suddenly started chanting a song to remind Smith of the sandpaper incident, whereby, during his press conference he went to apologize to his country for getting involved in ball-tampering during the South Africa tour. During that presser, Smith had completely broken down in tears.
“Steve we saw you cry on the telly,” the crowd went savage on Smith via their singing.
The best sports crowds are English or Aussie pic.twitter.com/X6SLVJFzLY
— Nikhil Mehra (@TweetinderKaul) June 19, 2023
Heartbreaking. Steve Smith has broken down delivering a message to young Aussie cricket fans. pic.twitter.com/l14AsvAhXz
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 29, 2018
England set a 281-run target for Australia to win the first Ashes Test on Day 4
Meanwhile, speaking of the match, Australia kept the pressure on England by chipping in with wickets at regular intervals. After the departure of Joe Root, the Aussies deployed their bouncer tactics similar to what England did with their tailenders. Even though Brook, Stokes scored some valuable runs for their side, Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins took four-wicket hauls to bowl out England on 273 in the second innings.
Thereafter, the Australian openers began well as David Warner and Usman Khawaja stitched a crucial partnership of 61 runs to give the visitors a strong start before Ollie Robinson got the breakthrough by getting Warner’s edge through to Bairstow’s gloves. Just when things were looking good for Australia, Stuart Broad also chipped with a fabulous outswinger to Marnus Labuschagne, who also departed shortly by handing a catch in the slip cordon. Currently, after 24 overs, the Aussies are 84/2, needing 197 more runs to win the first Ashes Test with one more day to go still.