In a thrilling Ashes 2023 series marked by intense battles between bat and ball, controversial decisions, and passionate on-field performances, an incident at Lord’s during the Lunch break on Day 5 of the second Test has left both players and members stunned. The dramatic sequence unfolded when Australia’s wicketkeeper, Alex Carey, stumped England’s Jonny Bairstow, who mistakenly believed that the over had been called and the ball was dead.
As a result, three members are now facing disciplinary measures pending the completion of the investigation. Days after the incident, eyewitnesses came forward to shed light on the behavior of the members. According to a report by ‘The Telegraph’, some members expressed the belief that the stewards could have taken preventive measures to avoid the incident altogether.
One member asserted, “They should have foreseen what might happen. If there were members of the committee available, somebody could have gone into the Long Room and said, ‘Look, you probably are peeved with that sneaky dismissal of Bairstow but please, gentlemen, act with decorum when the players come off.'”
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Expressing surprise and disappointment, the member further stated, “We have always been, I think, very polite and fair to both sides. It’s a great privilege to belong to the club, and we all know how we should behave. It was quite shocking.”
“Cheat, cheat, cheat!”
New footage has emerged of the moment Usman Khawaja called out an MCC member to security at Lords.
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Another member highlighted a sense of entitlement among some, emphasizing their belief that they can act without facing any consequences. This entitlement, coupled with the events on the field and the booing from the crowd, led some to question why there were not more stewards present in the Long Room.
Eyewitnesses revealed their disgust and shock at the derogatory language directed at the Australian players, particularly Usman Khawaja, within the Long Room. Reports from ‘The Age’ mentioned that some eyewitnesses felt “disgusted” and “shocked” by the language used against all the Australian players.
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This incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining respect and decorum, even in the midst of passionate sporting rivalries. The MCC and cricketing authorities have taken the matter seriously, swiftly condemning the behavior and initiating appropriate actions.
