Ashes 2023 [WATCH]: Alex Carey faces jeers from the crowd in the third Ashes Test at Headingley

On Day 1 of the third Ashes Test at Headingley, Australia’s wicketkeeper Alex Carey faced a hostile reception from the crowd when he came out to bat. The local crowd jeered and booed Carey, and some English players exchanged words with him as he made his way to the middle.

This negative reception was likely a response to an incident involving the 31-year-old during the previous Test at Lord’s, where he executed a stumping that some fans felt was against the ‘spirit of cricket’.

Here’s the video: 

“Welcome” Alex Carey pic.twitter.com/tCNv1bKEsY

— Justin it for the Cloutinho (@JUSTIN_AVFC_) July 6, 2023

During the final day of the second Test match at Lord’s, Jonny Bairstow, England’s gloveman, ducked the Australian allrounder Cameron Green’s bouncer that was the last ball of the over. Assuming that over was finished, Bairstow walked forward to talk to his batting partner Ben Stokes. Meanwhile, Carey seized the opportunity to throw the ball to the stumps and effectively stumped out the Bradford-born. Eventually, the third umpire declared the Englishman out.

While Carey’s stumping was within the rules of the game, many fans believed otherwise. This incident created anticipation for a rough reception for Carey in the third Ashes Test at Bairstow’s home ground and the England supporters left no stone unturned, expressing their disapproval by booing the Aussie wicketkeeper-batter.

After being invited to bat first on the green pitch, Australia suffered a collapse with David Warner (4), Usman Khawaja (13), Marnus Labuschagne (21) and Steve Smith (22) being dismissed early on, leaving the visitors at 85/4. However, a valuable 155-run partnership between Travis Head (39) and Mitchell Marsh helped Australia recover.

When Chris Woakes finally dismissed Marsh, Carey came in to bat. The crowd continued to express their displeasure with the southpaw, even chanting “shoes off if you hate Carey.” Throughout his innings, Carey faced a barrage of short balls and was dropped twice by English fielders on scores of 4 and 5.  The crowd continued to yell “cheat, cheat, cheat” at Carey after every ball. Nevertheless he got soon out by Mark Wood after being stunned by a bouncer to his head on the previous ball.

Here’s the video: 

The scene in the Western Terrace early in Alex Carey's innings pic.twitter.com/H6sQZkDeJv

— Tim Wigmore (@timwig) July 6, 2023

Earlier on in their first innings, Australia posted a total of 263 runs, with the Australian all rounder Marsh scoring an impressive 118. The Durham pacer, Wood was the standout bowler for England, taking five wickets, while Woakes picked three wickets.

In response, England struggled as Pat Cummins dismissed Ben Duckett (2) and Harry Brook (3) early on and Marsh then sent back Zak Crawley for 33. At the end of Day 1, England were 68/3 with Bairstow and Joe Root at the crease.