Jonny Bairstow carries off pitch invader as Lord’s Ashes Test interrupted by ‘Just Stop Oil’ protesters

Day one of the Lord’s Ashes Test was interrupted by pitch invaders in dramatic scenes on Wednesday morning — however England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow stole the highlight with a “heroic” second to guard the Lord’s pitch.

Throughout the second over of Australia’s first innings in London, ‘Simply Cease Oil’ protesters ran onto the hallowed turf and clashed with gamers, spraying orange powder earlier than safety intervened. One of many protesters confronted Australian opener David Warner and England captain Ben Stokes earlier than dumping his powder close to the Nursery Finish’s run-up, fortunately away from the pitch.

Bairstow was showered with applause after grabbing one other protester and carrying him off the sector like a toddler — the 33-year-old wanted to vary his shirt, which was coated in orange powder, earlier than play may resume.

“An excellent begin from Jonny this morning. Chucked it up over his shoulder,” former Australian captain Ricky Ponting joked on Sky Sports activities commentary.

“I wasn’t sport sufficient to say it earlier on … However the one likelihood that’s come his means, he’s held onto to this point.”

England’s Josh Tongue labelled teammate Bairstow a “hero” for his actions.

“I noticed Jonny working after him. If they’d put the powder on the wicket, who is aware of the place the sport would have been,” stated tempo bowler Tongue.

“Jonny doing what he did, who is aware of, the sport may’ve been referred to as off (in any other case).

“Little bit of a hero to be honest, if he didn’t cease him, they might’ve received on the pitch and accomplished one thing.” Tongue, enjoying in solely his second Take a look at for England, admitted he wouldn’t have been as courageous as Bairstow.

“I wouldn’t go in the direction of them myself in case they’d the rest on them,” he stated.

Three individuals have been arrested and brought into custody following the incident, Metropolitan Police confirmed.

“MCC condemn within the strongest attainable phrases in the present day’s pitch incursion and with the behaviour of the protestors concerned,” MCC chief government Man Lavender stated in a press release.

“Their actions not solely endanger themselves and those that work on the floor, however they’ve constantly proven full disregard for the individuals who pay to attend occasions, not simply right here at Lord’s however across the nation at different sporting venues.”

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Simply Cease Oil protesters have disrupted a number of sporting occasions in the UK this yr, together with the current Rugby Premiership closing at Twickenham.

Australia opener David Warner revealed his group had been warned concerning the potential for a pitch invasion from the activists.

However he didn’t count on Bairstow’s second of crowd management as a result of the gamers had been advised to not become involved.

“We had been warned earlier than hand it would occur,” Warner stated. “We didn’t actually know what to do. We had been advised to face away, not man-handle them like Jonny!”

The burly Bairstow appeared to deal with the incident with no concern, however his daring actions may have resulted in harm.

In 1982, Australia bowler Terry Alderman broken his shoulder whereas tackling a fan who invaded the Perth pitch throughout an Ashes Take a look at.

“We needed to guard the wicket, we didn’t need it broken,” Warner stated. “It’s a sensitive state of affairs. You don’t wish to be concerned in that, however the whole lot’s high-quality.”