EXCLUSIVE: Now whingeing Aussie cricketers tell roadworkers to down tools so they can have a lie-in during the Third Test: Team demands construction crew outside their Leeds hotel start at 9.30am not 7am so their beauty sleep isn’t disturbed
- Pat Cummins’ side have moaned construction work is keeping them awake
Australia’s whinging cricketers have requested builders working near their hotel in Leeds city centre start later so that they can get their beauty sleep during the third Ashes test.
Pat Cummins’ side, who were branded cheats after the controversial stumping of England’s Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s on Sunday, moaned that construction work in the city centre outside their outside four-star hotel The Queens was waking them up too early.
Now contractors working on a council regeneration scheme immediately outside the venue have been ordered to start their usual 7am shifts at 9.30am.
Leeds East Labour MP Richard Burgon said: ‘In Leeds, we still play fair – even if the Aussies don’t. We want to beat them on merit at Headingley and not because they’ve had a disrupted night’s sleep.
Leeds City Council is nearing the end of a £15million masterplan to slash the amount of traffic in the city centre.
Australia’s whinging cricketers have requested builders working near their hotel in Leeds city centre start later so that they can get their beauty sleep during the third Ashes test.
The Queens hotel, a stone’s throw from the city’s railway station, is currently surrounded by ongoing construction work, with diggers and excavators on sit. Australia’s whinging cricketers have requested builders have requested for the workers to start later so they can lie-in
Now contractors working on a council regeneration scheme immediately outside the venue have been ordered to start their usual 7am shifts at 9.30am
Pat Cummins (picture) side were branded cheats after the controversial stumping of England’s Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s on Sunday
The Queens hotel, a stone’s throw from the city’s railway station, is currently surrounded by ongoing construction work, with diggers and excavators on site.
READ MORE: Footage reveals moment furious MCC members chanting ‘cheat, cheat, cheat’ confronted Australians as they returned to their dressing room after controversial Jonny Bairstow dismissal
One workman told MailOnline: ‘We’ve been late starting a couple of times already this week because the Australians have complained about the noise.
‘But after what happened at Lord’s, if it was up to me, I’d be starting even earlier.
‘They’ve got some cheek on them to book a hotel right in the middle of the city and then moan about noise.
‘It’s not like we’re starting at 6am. How long do they want to stay in bed for?”
Another contractor, who also asked not to be named, added: ‘The team complained to the hotel about the noise from the works early in the morning. They asked if it could start later each morning during the Test.
‘It’s basically taxpayer money essentially paying for the team to have a lie-in.
‘If they were that set on a solid night’s sleep, why didn’t they book a hotel somewhere quieter.
‘Yorkshire is huge – and most of it is beautiful countryside.’
Pat Cummins’ side moaned that construction work in the city centre outside their outside four-star hotel The Queens was waking them up too early. Pictured: The Australian team signing autographs as they arrive in Leeds
The Queens hotel, a stone’s throw from the city’s railway station, is currently surrounded by ongoing construction work, with diggers and excavators on site. But the Australian side have complained about how noisy nearby construction work is. Pictured is Pat Cummins with fans
Leeds City Council is nearing the end of a £15million masterplan to slash the amount of traffic in the city centre
Pat Cummins ’ side moaned that construction work in the city centre outside their outside four-star hotel The Queens was waking them up too early.
Alex Carey of Australia stumps Jonny Bairstow of England in a dismissal considered not in the spirit of the game
Members of Lords lashed out at the Australians following the stumping as the squad made its way through the Long Room
Australia are bracing themselves for confrontations with angry England fans in Leeds ahead of tomorrow’s third Test at Headingley.
They secured a 2-0 lead in the five match contest following the controversial dismissal of Bairstow, 33.
He was stumped by wicket keeper Alex Carey after wandering off his crease, thinking the ball was ‘dead’.
While within the laws, the move was widely regarded as against the spirit of the game.
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: ‘The council has worked closely with The Queens Hotel to facilitate safe access throughout the improvements to Leeds City Square.”
‘Following a request from the hotel management team on Tuesday morning, noisy construction activities around the hotel will not commence until after 9.30am and no evening works are programmed until after 11 July.
‘We will continue to liaise with the Queens Hotel to minimise any inconvenience.’
Contractor Balfour Beatty was also approached for comment.
The Australians were branded cheats after the controversial stumping of England’s Jonny Bairstow at Lord’s on Sunday. Pictured: Alex Carey during a nets session in Headingley today
Pat Cummins is pictured warming up in Leeds on Wednesday before the third test in the Ashes begins
Australia bowler Scott Boland (pictured right) stretches during ahead of the third Ashes test on Wednesday
Mail Sport reported on Monday that security at Headingley is to be ramped up following the controversial dismissal of Bairstow.
We understand the dramatic scenes at Lord’s – and a potential backlash at Bairstow’s home county – have formed part of the planning for what promises to be an incredibly hostile atmosphere in Yorkshire for the Australians.
An extensive plan, with measures in place to prevent any pitch invading Just Stop Oil protestors, was already in place.
However, Sunday’s much-debated stumping of Yorkshire keeper Bairstow, which triggered outrage among the crowd and saw three MCC members suspended for abusing the tourists as they walked through the Long Room, has caused a significant additional headache.
Conversations are ongoing but particular focus will be paid to the Western Terrace, one of the most raucous areas in world cricket. The fact that Bairstow hails from nearby Bradford may well increase the temperature for Aussie captain Cummins and his side.
Officials believe the volume will be turned up considerably on Thursday, and while there is a confidence that those present will not cross the line plans are in place to act with speed should that be the case.
The situation has been eased somewhat by the fact that the dressing rooms at Headingley in a more isolated position than those at Lord’s and that the Aussies will not have to walk through crowds of spectators on their way on and off the field.
Despite Stokes’ heroic 155 Australia went on to win the match and take a 2-0 series lead. The skipper believes that the ill-feeling will increase at Headingley. ‘I definitely think it’s going to be ramped up,’ he said.
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