Ashes 2023: WATCH – Khawaja, Warner engage in animated discussions with members in Lord’s long room at Lunch break

The incident happened after Jonny Bairstow’s controversial dismissal in the first session on Day 5 at Lord's.

By Salman Anjum - 02 Jul, 2023

Australian batters Usman Khawaja and David Warner confronted MCC members in the long room while walking back to the dressing room for lunch on the final day of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s.

It all happened after a heated morning session on Day 5. The Australian players were booed by the crowd at the Home of Cricket after Jonny Bairstow was controversially dismissed by wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

While Pat Cummins and his men were at the receiving end of the hostility of Lord’s crowd, a video later emerged on social media that showed Khawaja and Warner being confronted by some MCC members.

Both the Australian openers didn’t take a back step as they were seen in animated discussions with members in the long room. Security guards intervened to prevent any unpleasant incident before escorting the player towards the dressing room.

Speaking to Sky Sports, former England skipper Eoin Morgan said, “I arrived here as a 16-year-old kid and was lucky to have played my whole career here and I have never seen scenes like that, particularly in the long room, never mind all the way around the ground. There is a huge sense of frustration and I can understand why. It is complete naivety around Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal.”

Talking about Bairstow’s dismissal, the English wicketkeeper-batter ducked a short ball from Cameron Green and almost instantly left his crease assuming the ball was dead. However, it was a brainfade on his part as Carey was smart enough to have collected the ball and aimed for the stumps in one go to catch Bairstow well outside the crease.

The Australians appealed and celebrated passionately as the decision was referred to the third umpire Marais Erasmus who did not take much time in giving the batter out.

Bairstow was left gutted by the decision as he had few words with some of the Australian fielders before heading towards the pavilion, while England captain Ben Stokes also exchanged his thoughts with Australian captain Pat Cummins.

By Salman Anjum - 02 Jul, 2023

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