England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow picked up and carried off the field a Just Stop Oil protester.
It was the first morning of the Ashes game at Lord’s.
One over had been played and England’s Stuart Broad readied himself for the second.
Suddenly, two protesters ran towards the Grandstand end of the London ground – spraying orange powder paint behind them.
Bairstow stopped one in their tracks before they could reach the pitch.
He picked up the activist and carried them more than 50 metres towards the boundary.
Security teams took away the person.
The protesters were loudly booed and jeered by the capacity crowd of around 32,000.
Play was held up for five minutes.
England captain Ben Stokes and Aussie opener David Warner stopped a second protester.
And a third was apprehended by security before they were able to get onto the out-field.
A Metropolitan Police statement read:
“We are aware of protesters on the Lord’s Cricket Ground pitch today, Wednesday, 28 June.
“Police have arrested three people and taken them into custody.”
Just Stop Oil posted online:
“It’s just not cricket to license (sic) oil, gas and coal whilst the climate crisis knocks us for six.
“The Just Stop Oil supporters are demanding the UK Govt immediately halt and new fossil fuel projects in the UK and are calling on Lord’s to make a statement demanding the same.”
Guy Lavender, MCC CEO, said:
“MCC condemn in the strongest possible terms today’s pitch incursion and with the behaviour of the protestors 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.”
