"Brought Shame...": MCC Chairman Slams Members Who Abused Australians

07.07.2023 - 11:13 sports.ndtv.com

Marylebone Cricket Club members who verbally abused Australian players during the second Ashes Test at Lord's have brought "shame" on the institution, according to the chairman.

The normally sedate London ground erupted in fury following the controversial dismissal of England's Jonny Bairstow on the last day of the match last week.

Spectators were incensed by the incident, in which Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey threw the ball at the stumps after Bairstow walked out of his crease having ducked under a Cameron Green bouncer.

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Australian counterpart Anthony Albanese even became embroiled in the row. But there was widespread condemnation over the treatment the Australia players received when walking through the pavilion at Lord's, the headquarters of the MCC.

cricket Australia Cricket Team England Cricket Team Ashes 2023 David Warner Cameron Green Alex Carey Jonny Bairstow Rishi Sunak Usman Khawaja Anthony Albanese Britain Australia

The Lord's Long Room altercation will go down as one of the most disappointing incidents in the history of cricket. The story which began with the controversial dismissal of England's Jonny Bairstow by Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey during the second Ashes Test, had even bitter ending after the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) members, who were present in the long room, hurled abuses towards the Australian players while they were heading to the dressing room for Lunch. Things got more ugly when Australia opener Usman Khawaja claimed that he was racially abused by the members of MCC.

"Pick A Fight With The Australians": Stuart Broad's Ashes 'Strategy' Is Bound To Leave Everyone Stunned

Since the controversial dismissal of England batter Jonny Bairstow in the second Ashes Test by Australia, the Ashes series has got a little heated up. Attacks from both sides followed. Though England lost the first two Tests, they won the third game as they ow trail 1-2 in the five-match contest. The fourth Ashes Test starts on July 19 and England will be eye to level the scores. During that match at Lord's, England fast bowler Stuart Broad could be seen sledging Australian players, particularly Aleax Carey, after the Bairstow incident. Broad said that it was a strategy. "It was such an important moment of that game at Lord's. I had to make sure that I was mentally switched on and able to do a job for Ben Stokes at the other end. Part of my strategy was to pick a fight with couple of Australians! So that I would not be focussing on too much technique and I would be focussing on the ball and make sure I stay there. Part of Ashes cricket, the rivalry, the history is very much a great battle out there. Both teams have been really stuck in this series. A lot of the players know each other really well. We lunch in the same room. It's not like there's a huge battle going on off the field," Broad said on Sky Sports.

MCC members who abused Australians in Ashes Test brought 'shame' on club

Marylebone Cricket Club members who verbally abused Australian players during the second Ashes Test at Lord's have brought "shame" on the institution, according to the chairman.

'Don't Have Any Other Work?': Ex-Pakistan Captain Slams England, Australian PMs Over Jonny Bairstow Saga

The 'Spirit of Cricket' debate took the center stage after Australia wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey controversially stumped Jonny Bairstow on Day 5 of the 2nd Ashes Test at Lord's last week. Bairstow ducked a Cameron Green bouncer and left his crease to have a chat with England captain Ben Stokes, who was standing on the non-striker's end. However, Carey threw the ball into the stumps, leaving everyone, including Bairstow, in disbelief. The decision was referred to the third umpire and the decision went against Bairstow and England.

Members access restricted at Lord's after Australia confrontation

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) said it will take a "tougher stance" on the behaviour of its members and introduce measures to protect players at Lord's after the Australian team were verbally abused during the second Ashes test against England.