‘Haa ye inke ‘spirit of the game’ me hoga na’ – Fans react as English crowd trolls Steve Smith with ‘crying’ mask after England win 3rd Ashes Test

In the third Test of the Ashes 2023, England beat Australia by 3 wickets in Headingley, Leeds. After winning the game, England kept their hopes alive for the remaining fixtures as they make the series 2-1 in favour of Australia. It is worth noting that the Ashes is the oldest rivalry in Test cricket and winning the title is a matter of great pride and honour in both countries. Consequently, there is extensive attention from the media and fans, which keeps the series entertaining and feisty.

After winning the game, England fans at Headingley mocked former Australia skipper Steve Smith by wearing a mask of the Australian batter crying. This image of Smith is from 2018 from a press conference, where he broke down after the sandpaper-gate. Smith sobbed in front of the media after the leadership group was caught orchestrating ball-tampering during the third Test of Australia’s tour of South Africa in Cape Town. And this resulted in Cricket Australia (CA) serving them with lengthy bans.

However, this incident has attracted mixed reactions on social media, as some fans and former players find it unnecessary. Meanwhile, some think that it’s part of the game and will only motivate Smith to score runs in upcoming games. Notably, Australia is leading the five-match series 2-1 after winning the first two Tests at Edgbaston and Lord’s.

Mark Wood proved to be the X-factor for England

The third Test was just as exciting as the first two. Australia scored 263 in the first inning, led by Mitchell Marsh’s comeback century. Mark Wood made a comeback as well, playing for England. In response, the hosts were held to 237, with Ben Stokes exhibiting another Headingley special. Head’s 77 in the second inning enabled Australia to set England a goal of 251. Both teams fought hard in the closing innings. While England stayed undefeated at the conclusion of Day 3, they lost key wickets early on Day 4.

However, Harry Brook‘s 75, Woakes’ 32, and Wood’s 16 ensured England’s victory. With his match-winning performance, Mark Wood clinched the Player of the Match award. In his all-round performance, Wood scored a crucial 40 runs in just 16 balls while taking 8 wickets, giving up just 100 runs in the game.

Here is how fans react to the English crowd mocking Steve Smith: