Ashes 2023: “If I am coming to cricket, I wouldn’t want my kids around,” Usman Khawaja speaks out on crowd abuse

Khawaja said the abuse from crowd towards players in England and Australia has become far too much.

Usman Khawaja | GettyEarlier this month, Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal in the second Ashes Test between England and Australia at Lord’s hogged the limelight.

The English batter wandered out of his crease after ducking a bouncer and Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey stumped him out, which triggered the Spirit of Cricket debate all over again.

Moreover, the crowd accused the Australian team of cheating while visiting openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner were confronted by some MCC members in Lord’s long room.

Recalling the incident, Khawaja on Monday (July 17) said that the abuse from crowd towards players in England and Australia has become far too much.

The southpaw also expressed concern about what the kids in the stands heard when they came to watch cricket.

“Personally, if I am coming to the cricket and watching the cricket, I wouldn’t want my kids to be around that,” Khawaja said ahead of the fourth Ashes Test at Old Trafford.

“If I saw that I would 100 percent make a complaint or just leave. I think some of the stuff can be pretty poor. Over at Edgbaston they were calling Travis Head a c… you know what. I’m like I can’t believe you can actually say that in a public domain anywhere.”

In the past, England players have also faced crowd hostility when they’ve travelled to Australia for the Ashes. Khawaja condemned the despicable behaviour of Australian spectators as well.

“If you talk about it to England guys, they say we are equally as rough when [they go to Australia]. I don’t agree with it either way. I don’t think it’s the right thing to do,” Khawaja said.

“It can be a little disappointing at times, and I think we can take it too far in Australia. I’m not a big fan of it. I know watching a lot of sport and loving sport that it happens around the world. You watch the NBA [and] it happens there. Particularly when crowds can get real close to you, which they can in cricket. It is what it is, I don’t agree with it.”

Khawaja refused to comment on his animated argument with the MCC members in Lord’s long room.

“I’m just going to leave it there,” he said. “MCC are all over it. I trust them to do the right thing.”

Australia are leading the five-match Ashes series 2-1 after three Tests. The fourth Test is due to be played in Manchester from July 19.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 18 Jul, 2023

    Share Via