1 year ago
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Jonny Bairstow's removal of a Just Stop Oil protestor from the tract connected the archetypal time of the 2nd Ashes Test astatine Lord's came contempt players being advised not to face transportation invaders.
Three radical were arrested aft orangish pulverization was thrown connected to the outfield.
Of the 2 protesters that made it connected to the field, one was carried distant by Bairstow and different stopped by Ben Stokes and David Warner.
"In that instance, we wanted to support the wicket," said Warner.
The Australia opener, 36, confirmed that players had been told to enactment distant from protesters, but with harm to the transportation much apt to origin large disruption successful cricket than astir different sports, Warner acted to forestall the anticipation of a lengthy delay.
"We were told to basal distant and beryllium careful," said Warner. "We cognize what they are trying to bash to the wicket, truthful for america it was astir protecting the wicket and the champion interests of what we felt retired there.
"I don't cognize what that chalk could person done to the wicket, but it would person been a agelong delay."
Advice to players had been issued done the England and Wales Cricket Board's (ECB) information channels anterior to the match.
Security has been heightened astir large cricket matches and England's squad autobus was concisely stopped by protesters arsenic the players travelled to the Test against Ireland astatine Lord's earlier successful June.
For the World Test Championship last betwixt Australia and India astatine The Oval a reserve transportation was prepared successful lawsuit the archetypal aboveground was damaged and determination is believed to beryllium a akin contingency successful spot astatine Lord's.
"It's a touchy situation," added Warner. "You don't privation to beryllium progressive successful that. It was rather confronting, due to the fact that you don't cognize what to do."
Wednesday's lucifer was lone 1 implicit aged erstwhile the protesters entered the tract from the Lord's Grandstand.
Initially confronted by the players, they were besides tackled by information unit from the venue and the ECB.
England wicketkeeper Bairstow was cheered by the assemblage arsenic helium carried 1 protester from the mediate to the bound edge.
Bairstow past near the tract to seemingly alteration his garment and wicketkeeping gloves arsenic the orangish powder, which landed connected the quadrate and outfield, had recovered its mode onto his kit.
"If Jonny didn't bash what helium did, who knows wherever the crippled could beryllium now?," England gait bowler Josh Tongue told BBC Sport. "It could've been called off.
"He's a spot of a hero!
"My backmost was turned. I heard Jonny outcry and past saw him moving aft him. I astir apt wouldn't person gone towards them, conscionable successful lawsuit they had thing other connected them."
Australia finished the archetypal time connected 339-5 aft being asked to bat first, with Steve Smith unbeaten connected 85.
Just Stop Oil protesters person disrupted different sporting events this year, including the rugby national Premiership last and the World Snooker Championship.
The biology protestation radical is calling for the authorities to halt each caller oil, state and ember projects.
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