If you thought Lord’s was bad, wait until you see Leeds united against Australia

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No sooner had Mitchell Starc hit Josh Tongue’s leg stump at Lord’s than the term “Western Terrace” had begun trending on Twitter. Stay in your crease and prepare for police, for the third Ashes Test at Headingley starts on Thursday and everybody is getting a little bit emotional.

Ben Stokes, captain of an England team now 2-0 down in the series, predicts proceedings will get “ramped up”. The visitors certainly agree — requesting extra security for the match after the ugly scenes at Lord’s. The British press is running “Pariah Carey” headlines. The UK Prime Minister says the spirit of cricket has been contravened. As theatre, the whole thing constitutes a thoroughly enjoyable meltdown.

That is, aside from the abuse hurled at Australia’s players in the second Test during the final day of their victory in London, which prompted the Marylebone Cricket Club to suspend three members. There will be no Long Room in Leeds, but if you think some expletives from the toffs is raucous just wait until 3pm at Headingley when the Yorkshire crowd is 10 pints deep.

The Australian reported the request for extra security came after Steve Smith’s mother left early on day five at Lord’s to escape the taunts of fans, for whom her accent — rather than her connection to the star batsman — was provocation enough. The 11-year-old son of one staff member was also reduced to tears after what had begun as a family occasion at the home of cricket.

The contrast in atmosphere at these two locations could not be more stark. One enforces a dress code of cravats and tailored coats; the other opens its doors to Shrek costumes and ancient Roman togas.

The “spirit of cricket” – that great ethical adjudicator – will be floating somewhere over the Western Terrace, where unruly cup collectors dressed as lobsters and seagulls and Boris Johnson lurk ominously, readying to build their outlawed beer snakes as forlorn stewards give chase.

Much of it is pantomime but this time the stage is set for something a little more gruesome. Maybe Shrek will kill the Romans. Boris Johnson might eat a lobster. Whatever happens, wicketkeeper Alex Carey, whose stumping of Bairstow at Lord’s triggered the chaos, will almost certainly be booed.

The Headingley crowd during an Ashes clash in 2019.Credit: Getty

Any on-field flashpoint – an overturned dismissal, a catch that touches the ground, heaven forbid a Mankad – could escalate the vitriol at the 18,350-capacity venue.

Last June, during an England Test against New Zealand, a brawl broke out in the Western Terrace. Punches were thrown by a man wearing a replica of former England footballer Paul Gascoigne’s famous Euro 1996 No.8 shirt.

The incident came four months after the England and Wales Cricket Board overturned a ban it had placed on Yorkshire cricket club from hosting international matches following allegations of institutionalised racism at the club by former player Azeem Rafiq.

Police intervened in that melee, and are on standby to do so again amid reports that the dramatic scenes at Lord’s have formed part of the authorities’ plans to increase security at the venue. That includes a team of “sprinter stewards” to intercept any protesters or disgruntled spectators.

An extensive plan had already been in place to prevent potential pitch-invading protesters with the environmental activist group Just Stop Oil, after two managed to get onto the pitch during the first day at Lord’s.

But the prospects of a backlash against Australian players, and in particular Carey, is viewed as more likely in Bairstow’s home county – the wicketkeeper-batter was born 45 minutes’ drive down the road in Bradford and is a beloved local in those parts.

“The wellbeing of players, officials and spectators is paramount, and we are implementing appropriate measures to do everything within our control to keep everyone safe,” a spokesperson for the county told Press Association.

“Clearly, some incidents at Lord’s have heightened the interest and exposure of the third Test. We will continue to work closely with both the England and Wales Cricket Board and West Yorkshire Police to ensure our safety measures are proportionate for this fixture.”

Australian captain Pat Cummins looks on as fans have their say at Lord’s.Credit: Getty

Captain Pat Cummins, meanwhile, said he would keep watch over Carey, who was told by Stuart Broad “you’ll forever be remembered” for his Bairstow dismissal, but also intimated a siege mentality could galvanise the tourists to retain the urn by the end of the week.

“There’s nothing like loud crowds that bring a team together,” Cummins said before his squad departed London for Leeds. “He’s one of the guys we’ll get around. But these kinds of moments can really strengthen a side.”

As British newspaper iNews printed on its back page on Tuesday: “The gloves are off.”

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