Bairstow ignored ECB security advice by dragging away Just Stop Oil protester

The England and Australia squads were warned this week about the danger of Just Stop Oil activists attempting to disrupt the second Ashes Test, with representatives of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s security unit advising them to stay away from any protesters who made it on to the Lord’s pitch. That scenario became reality just one over into the opening day on Wednesday, with Jonny Bairstow deciding to completely ignore the advice, intercept one of two people sprinting towards the wicket with bags of what appeared to be orange powder paint, and hoist him into the air before carrying him beyond the boundary.

Three protesters were arrested for aggravated trespass although one, a 69-year-old woman, did not make it on to the field of play. Two others each sprinted towards a different set of stumps carrying bags of orange powder paint – Bairstow intercepted one while at the other end Ben Stokes, the England captain, and Australia’s David Warner combined to usher the other away from the square before he was rugby tackled by a steward.

The players were preparing for the second over of the day when the protesters emerged from the Grand Stand. While the 69-year-old woman did not make it on to the outfield, two others sprinted towards a different set of stumps, carrying bags of orange powder paint. Bairstow, England’s wicketkeeper, moved quickly to intercept one while at the other end Ben Stokes, the England captain, and Australia’s David Warner combined to usher the intruder away from the square before he was rugby tackled by a steward.

To a chorus of boos from spectators, two of the protesters were led out of the ground by stewards while the third – the one carried by Bairstow – refused to cooperate and was eventually lifted off the ground by two police officers and again carried away.

Guy Lavender, chief executive of the MCC, who run Lord’s, said: “MCC condemn in the strongest possible terms today’s pitch incursion and the behaviour of the protesters involved. Their actions not only endanger themselves and those who work at the ground, but they have consistently shown complete disregard for the people who pay to attend events, not just here at Lord’s but around the country at other sporting venues.”

Unlike a similar intervention at the World Snooker Championship in April, when a protester managed to empty a bag of orange paint on to a snooker table, rendering it unusable until the cloth was replaced, groundstaff were able to quickly remove the powder with the aid of brooms and a leaf blower. Play resumed after a few minutes’ delay during which Bairstow changed out of his orange-dusted shirt, returning to congratulatory back-slaps from teammates as well as Australia’s Usman Khawaja.

In a statement, Just Stop Oil pointed out that the American financial services firm JP Morgan, who provided $434bn in financing to fossil fuel companies between 2016 and 2022, is the principal commercial partner of Lord’s, adding that “cricket will be the hardest hit of all the major pitch sports by the extreme conditions wrought by the climate crisis”.

“Cricket is an important part of our national heritage, but how can we enjoy England v Australia when much of the cricketing world is becoming unfit for humans to live in?” a spokesperson said. “We can no longer afford to distract ourselves when the sports we play, the food we eat, and the culture we cherish is at risk.”

It is the second time that Just Stop Oil have targeted cricket this summer, after they delayed the arrival of the England team for the first day of the Test match against Ireland, also at Lord’s, earlier this month by walking slowly in front of their coach as it left their Kensington hotel. They also interrupted the Premiership rugby final between Saracens and Sale at Twickenham last month.

cover photo:independent.co.uk