Steve Smith is slammed by crushed England fans for 'mocking Jack Leach' during gloating celebrations - but the imitation had NOTHING to do with him
- Steve Smith appeared to mock England's Jack Leach in Ashes win celebrations
- Australian batsman wore glasses and pretended to bat left-handed
- England's bespectacled spinner Leach was hero of the win at Headingley
- But he couldn't save England again on Sunday as the urn remains with Aussies
- English fans attacked 'cheat' Smith for a lack of class on social media
- But an Aussie photographer said he was mimicking batsman Chris Rogers
Steve Smith was not mocking England bowler Jack Leach when he put on glasses while celebrating with teammates, according to an Australian photographer.
When Australia beat England on Sunday, the team returned to the pitch after sunset for some raucous champagne celebrations.
Nathan Lyon gave a foul-mouthed speech about the press and then invited Smith into a team huddle.
Steve Smith wears glasses appearing to mock Jack Leach as he celebrates retaining the Ashes at Old Trafford alongside Nathan Lyon and surrounded by joyous Australia team-mates
Smith cavorts with Nathan Lyon while wearing glasses as he mocks England's Jack Leach
Australia appeared to poke fun at the England bowler following his Headingley celebrations
Getty photographer Ryan Pierse said Smith was not mocking Leach but mimicking Aussie batsman Chris Rogers, who played with glasses on
The Aussie talisman wiped off a pair of glasses and pretended to bat left handed, drawing laughter from his teammates.
The celebrations appeared to mock Jack Leach after he helped England win the third Test at Headingley with the one run he scored in his last wicket 76 partnership with Ben Stokes.
Smith was widely criticised by England fans for showing 'no class' by celebrating in such way.
But on Monday Getty photographer Ryan Pierse said Smith was not mocking Leach.
'Bit of chat in the UK and Australian press this morning that Steve Smith was mocking Jack Leach last night,' Pierse tweeted.
'The fact is Steve donned some glasses as a nod to the great Chris 'Bucky' Rogers. Uncanny resemblance wouldn't you say!'
Rogers, 42, was a left-handed batsman who wore glasses when he played and represented Australia in the 2013 Ashes.
Whether England fans will believe Pierse's claim remains to be seen.
Leach cleans his glasses while batting with Craig Overton during England's second innings
Australia are celebrating retaining the Ashes in England for the first time in 18 years
Australia celebrated retaining the Ashes by spraying champagne and beer at Old Trafford
Their celebrations continued long into the night in Manchester with the series secured
England supporters were left furious with the celebrations on Twitter with one leading a foul mouthed rant saying: 'So Steve Smith, this 'good lad' who's served his time who we're all supposed to feel sorry for and not boo, celebrated tonight by putting glasses on and taking the piss out of Jack Leach! The man is nothing but a c**t amongst a team of p****s! #CheatingB******s'
Another branded the Australia team as classless, saying 'Feel pity. You can't buy class.'
Others claimed the tourists as bad winners, while some were less surprised by Smith's mocking comparing it to his 'cheating' past.
Celebrations continued with chants of 'Who did we beat? England. How did we do it? Easy' followed by the team getting down and doing press ups
The mocking of Leach continued as Australia players shouted 'no ball' and 'come back Smithy', with Leach having dismissed the batsman in the first innings of the Old Trafford Test only to have been ruled to bowl a no-ball.
The celebrations continued with chants of 'Who did we beat? England. How did we do it? Easy' before getting down and doing press-ups.
Australia, who were enjoying their first series win in England for 18 years also lauded skipper Tim Paine by singing, 'Same old Painey, always winning' as a play on the home crowd's chants of 'same old Aussies always cheating' which have been sung towards the tourists throughout the summer.
Leach dismissed Smith in Australia's first innings but had bowled a no ball in the process
Leach and England captain Joe Root react after Smith's reprieve for the no ball on Thursday
