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Another underarm scandal: Aussies win Test, but labelled cheats at the home of cricket

The controversial dismissal of English batsman Jonny Bairstow in last night’s Ashes Test has been likened to the infamous “underarm” incident – leaving Australia to fend off accusations of cheating and the historic Marylebone Cricket Club to explain the behaviour of its members.

Jul 03, 2023, updated Jul 03, 2023
England's Jonny Bairstow (left) looks frustrated after being run out by Australia's Alex Carey (not pictured) as players celebrate during day five of the second Ashes test match at Lord's, London. Picture date: Sunday July 2, 2023.. See PA Story CRICKET England. Photo credit should read: Mike Egerton/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use without prior written consent of the ECB. Still image use only. No moving images to emulate broadcast. No removing or obscuring of sponsor logos.

England's Jonny Bairstow (left) looks frustrated after being run out by Australia's Alex Carey (not pictured) as players celebrate during day five of the second Ashes test match at Lord's, London. Picture date: Sunday July 2, 2023.. See PA Story CRICKET England. Photo credit should read: Mike Egerton/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use without prior written consent of the ECB. Still image use only. No moving images to emulate broadcast. No removing or obscuring of sponsor logos.

On a drama-charged final day at Lord’s, Australia’s players were continuously jeered by local fans after Alex Carey stumped Jonny Bairstow when he walked out of his crease; players were abused and two were allegedly tripped by some members inside the Lord’s Pavilion.

It came as Australia’s 43-run victory in the second Test took them to a 2-0 lead and left them one win away from their first Ashes series win in England in 2001.

But it wasn’t pretty.

Vision from inside the long room as players left the field at lunch showed players were yelled at by several members and labelled “cheats”.

AAP has been told the abuse from different members included several expletives and calling players a “disgrace”, “liars” and telling them to return home.

That prompted both Usman Khawaja and David Warner to stop and approach one man, before two stewards stepped between the members and ushered Warner away.

The drama is understood to have continued up the stairs and out of camera shot before players ate lunch.

“Australian management has requested the MCC investigate several incidents involving spectators in the members area during lunch on day five of the Lord’s Test,” Cricket Australia said in a statement.

“It is alleged players and staff from the Australian team were verbally abused, with some being physically contacted, as they made their way to lunch through the members area.”

Australian management have declined to detail the extent of the physical contact.

But sources in the pavilion have told AAP at least one person stuck their foot out to trip both Warner and Steve Smith as they walked up the stairs towards lunch.

Warner in particular was left to force his way through the crowd, which was described as intimidating and akin to a London Tube at 5pm on a Friday.

The situation became so serious that MCC CEO Guy Lavender came down to address the members at lunch to remind them to respect players.

Khawaja said afterwards he felt compelled to act.

“It was very disappointing. If anyone asked me where the best place is to play, I always say Lord’s; the crowd is great, particularly the members are great,” Khawaja told Nine’s broadcast.

“But some of the stuff that was coming out of the members’ mouths was really disappointing and I wasn’t just going to stand by and cop it.

“So I just talked to a few of them, a few of them (were) throwing out some pretty big allegations and I just called them up on it and they kept going.”

The MCC were still gathering full details from inside the Pavilion by late on Sunday, but confirmed three people have had their memberships suspended.

There is no suggestion those three people were involved in the physical contact with players.

“MCC can confirm it has suspended three members identified from earlier today,” it said in a statement.

“They will not be permitted back to Lord’s whilst the investigation takes place.

“We maintain that the behaviour of a small number of members was completely unacceptable.

“And whilst there was no suggestion by Pat Cummins in the post-match press conference that there was any physical altercation, it remains wholly unacceptable to behave in such a way, which goes against the values of the club.

“MCC condemns the behaviour witnessed and once again we reiterate our apology to Cricket Australia.”

 

 

 

 

 

England were left stunned when Bairstow walked out of his crease after ducking a Cameron Green delivery, only for Alex Carey to underarm the ball at the wicket and have him stumped.

England captain Ben Stokes claimed after the match he would have withdrawn the appeal had he been in Australia’s shoes, reasoning that Bairstow had thought the ball was dead and it was over.

Australia have argued the decision lay with the umpires, and Bairstow left his crease before over was called.

England coach McCullum took Stokes’ complaints one step further after play, when describing relations between the two teams.

“I can’t imagine we’ll be having a beer with them any time soon,” McCullum told the BBC.

“We have three Tests to land some blows and try and win the Ashes. That is where our focus will be.”

McCullum also indicated he would have ensured England would have withdrawn the appeal, while attacking Australia’s sportsmanship.

“I was lucky enough to play for a long period of time and you learn over a long period that the game and the spirit of the game is so vital to this great game,” McCullum said.

“It’s one thing we’ve got that other sports maybe don’t have, and to uphold that is such an important part of it.

“In the end you’ve got to live with the decisions you make, and that’s life.

“But I feel from our point of view, if we were in the same situation, we might’ve made a different decision.”

McCullum’s comments are likely to raise eyebrows in Australia’s camp, after he twice ran players out through his New Zealand Test career as batsmen were celebrating milestones.

The Bairstow wicket left England 5-193 in pursuit of 371 for victory, before a counter-attacking 155 from Stokes allowed England to get 327 before they were bowled out in pursuit of 371.

Australia were jeered continually by the crowd after that point, and have claimed they copped verbal abuse and physical contact from fans as they walked through the Lord’s Long Room at lunch.

Australia’s captain Pat Cummins, though, is adamant there was nothing wrong with the dismissal, and pointed towards similar actions from Bairstow to roll the ball at stumps after gloving it during the match.

“You see Jonny do it all the time, he did it day one to (David) Warner, he did it in 2019 to Steve (Smith), it’s a really common thing for keepers to do,” Cummins said.

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