The MCC has released a statement regarding the suspension of three members after the Lord’s Long Room Incident.
Lord’s Long Room Incident
The incident occurred in the morning session of the Second Test of Ashes 2023 when Jonny Bairstow was dismissed as he was Alex Carey while wandering out of his crease at the end of the over, thinking that the ball was said to be dead. In Bairstow’s dismissal, the Australian side was criticized by England fans throughout the session of the game, until they reach the Lord’s Long Room.
It happened in the first session of the England Innings as Jonny Bairstow and Ben Stokes had pressure on building up the score after Ben Duckett’s catch by Alex Carey. England was chasing a target of 371 and was 193 for 5 when Bairstow ducked to avoid a bouncer from Cameron Green on the last ball of the 52nd over.
On the final delivery by Cameron Green, the ball was alone to the wicket-keeper as Jonny Bairstow started walking outside the Crease towards his partner Stokes, having thoughts of the dead ball.
Alex Carey realized an opening and took advantage to dismiss the batter, and had an attempt for a direct hit at the striker’s end to catch Bairstow off-guard and succeeded in it.
In a moment it was given out and Jonny Bairstow was left with fumes as Australians celebrated around him. According to Law 20, a ball is considered dead when it is finally settled, which is under the final decision of the Umpire. On the incident, Umpire Ahsan Raza had not even called it over.
Usman Khawaja’s reply to this incident
Usman Khawaja was very depressed about this incident and said, “It was really disappointing, Lord’s is one of my favorite places to come. There’s always respect shown at Lord’s, particularly in the Members Pavilion in the Long Room, but there wasn’t today. 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, and some of the stuff that was coming out of the members’ mouths [today] was really disappointing and I wasn’t just going to stand by and cop it. So I just talked to a few of them.
MCC statement after the Incident
“MCC can confirm it has suspended three Members identified from earlier today,” a spokesperson said. “They will not be permitted back to Lord’s whilst the investigation takes place and were informed of this by MCC Chief Executive, Guy Lavender, this evening.
“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.”
As for the Bairstow dismissal itself, Khawaja said: “It is what it is. We copped the same thing at Edgbaston. Obviously, it’s a little different here.
It’s disappointing, to say the least. You know, we always try to play cricket, in our best spirits, and we’ve said since Patty [Pat Cummins] has taken over, since Andrew McDonald has taken over, winning is as important as how we win.
“The decision again was in the umpire’s hands. If the umpire deemed it a dead ball today, it was a dead ball. Just like yesterday’s catch [by Mitchell Starc – ruled not out]. We don’t fully agree with it, but you have to accept the umpire’s decision.
“That’s why the umpires are there. So I mean, there’s always grey areas in cricket. And the way it played out I guess in some respects, is kind of disappointing. I love Stuey Broad. I think he’s one of my favourite cricketers.
The way he plays, the way he’s always got a smile on his face and he was pretty riled up out there, which you don’t want to see. But yeah, it is what it is.”
The third Test commences in Headingley on Thursday, with Australia requiring a win or a draw to retain the urn they have held over England since the start of 2018.
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