Headingley, August 06: A ferocious atmosphere is expected at Headingley tomorrow as plans to convert the ground to a cross between a library and a closed monastery appeared to founder.
Fears about the behaviour at the most unseemly of English Test venues were swept aside by the players who are ready and willing for a match to be played throughout at fever pitch.
“I think things have stepped up a bit because it’s getting closer to the end and we need to win,” said the Australian all-rounder Shane Watson. “The intensity is really starting to rise up because we need it to. It’s great cricket and it’s great to have some really competitive banter out there.”
The intensity may be enhanced at the fourth npower Test – with England 1-0 up with two matches to play before the Ashes are decided – by the traditionally raucous behaviour of the fans. Australia’s captain Ricky Ponting was regularly booed at Edgbaston in the last Test and English administrators seemed so embarrassed that they are launching an appeal for silence through the ECB chairman, Giles Clarke.
–Agencies