NEWS
Follow UsThree audience members were on Friday evicted from the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) after a verbal confrontation with England duo Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes during the fourth Ashes Test.
The England pair took exception with something that was said to them while they were walking back to the visitors' dressing room for tea. While Stokes stared back one of the spectators, Bairstow replied to the trio. It is believed that the security had evicted them soon after.
Bairstow, who leg England's stunning fightback with Stokes with an unbeaten 103, wished that the fans had stayed back to watch their counterattack on third day. After being reduced to 36/4, Bairstow and Stokes added 128 for the fifth wicket to breath life into their first innings.
"It would be nicer if they were there giving it when we walked off at the end, wouldn't it?" Bairstow said at the end of day. "But unfortunately, they weren't there at the end and they missed the end of a fantastic day's Test cricket."
Bairstow urged the fans to be responsible as cricketers try to do their best to keep their emotions in check.
"It was just a bit of bad-mouthing from the crowd and obviously it's not the greatest and it's not needed. We're out there trying to do our jobs. People are out there, enjoying the day's cricket and unfortunately sometimes you have people overstep the mark," he said.
"It's important to stand up for ourselves, because if we're not standing up for ourselves as well, then you can cop it and especially when people overstep the mark, they need to be told."
England ended day three at 258/7 with Bairstow and Jack Leach (4 not out) at the crease. They trail Australia by 158 runs.