England fans to hammer Australia at Headingley as third Ashes test starts

BEN STOKES expects a ­fuming Headingley crowd to hammer Australia today.

But shamed Aussie skipper Pat Cummins insists he would repeat the controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow, which saw his side booed and branded ‘cheats’ at Lord’s.

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The must-win Third Test starts in Leeds this morning.

And England captain Stokes said of the locals: “They might be a little more ramped up, for some reason.

“The atmosphere when it gets going, especially towards the end of the day, is something else.

“Even when things aren’t going our way, they’re still going wild.

“It’s just an amazing atmosphere at Headingley.

“Who knows if Jonny will use that incident as some kind of inspiration?

“But we’ve seen in the past that Jonny manages to do something after he’s criticised.”

Australia sparked outrage on Sunday when wicketkeeper Alex ‘Pariah’ Carey stumped Bairstow after he moved out of the crease, thinking an over had finished.

The dismissal was within the rules but Stokes said he would have withdrawn the appeal.

Cummins did not, though, and Australia went on to win the Test by 43 runs, despite Stokes’ stunning knock of 155.

After the incident, Aussie players were constantly booed by the Lord’s crowd and targeted with abuse in the pavilion.

The mum of former skipper Steve Smith, who is always heckled after serving a ban for cheating, left the ground early.

The tourists are now worried for partners and children who are with them and there is likely to be increased security.

But when asked if he would do it again, Cummins replied: “Yes. I’m really comfortable with it.

“The way our team conducted themselves over the last couple of years has been flawless.

“We’ve been fantastic and that showed again on day five at Lord’s.

“I think the spirit of cricket is 100 per cent a real thing, it’s a gentleman’s sport. And I think our players were outstanding in that regard.”

Yorkshire’s Bairstow is a hero at Headingley where his late father David also played.

Stokes added: “The crowd absolutely love the fact that Yorkshire people walk out and play for England. They love watching Jonny and Joe Root.

“The crowd is amazing. It’s a natural thing — it’s a pretty hostile environment in Australia.”

England must win or the Aussies, already 2-0 up, will retain The Ashes.

Harry Brook will bat at No 3, with fellow Yorkies Root and Bairstow at No 4 and No 5.

Moeen Ali, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood come in, with Ollie Pope injured and Jimmy Anderson and Josh Tongue rested.