New video angle shows ugly detail of abuse directed at Australian batter

A new video has emerged showing the extent to which Australian players were targeted by the MCC members in the Long Room at Lord’s.

Fresh video has shown the extent to which Australian players were abused as they made their way through the Long Room at Lord’s for the lunch break on the fifth day of the second Ashes Test.

Video sent to the Nine papers shows Usman Khawaja repeatedly being singled out for abuse by some MCC members, giving him pause to stop and point the individuals out to security staff and Australian team security boss Frank Dimasi.

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Nine papers report that an anonymous source close to the England Cricket Board source deny that the abuse was racially-motivated.

Khawaja is of Pakistani heritage and the first Muslim to play for Australia.

The footage shows the players heading up the stairs at the rear of the Long Room that lead up to the players’ rooms, with the crowd targeting players as they walk past, and Khawaja stopping to point out another member in previously-unseen footage.

Footage from the Long Room at Lord's shows the abuse Australian players copped on the fifth day.

An audible hush comes over the Pavilion as Khawaja stops for the second time on his way up the players’ race, having previously stopped alongside David Warner earlier on his way up.

Among the jeers, two Australian players were allegedly tripped by members inside the Pavilion.

Khawaja, speaking after the Test, called the behaviour “disrespectful”.

“Some of the stuff that was coming out of the members’ mouths was really disappointing, and I wasn’t just going to stand by and cop it,” Khawaja said.

“So I just talked to a few of them, a few of them [were] throwing out some pretty big allegations and I just called them up on it, and they kept going.

“And if they kept going I was like, ‘well, it’s your membership here’, so I was just pointing them out. But it’s pretty disrespectful, to be honest. I just expect a lot better from the members.”

Cricket Australia confirmed team management had requested the MCC investigate “several incidents involving spectators in the members area”.

“It is alleged players and staff from the Australian team were verbally abused, with some being physically contacted as they made their way to lunch through the members area,” CA said in a statement.

Australian players are heckled as they walk past MCC members at Lords after the dismissal of English batsman Jonny Bairstow. Picture: Nine Wide World of Sports

During the afternoon session, the MCC released a statement apologising to the Australian team for the incident.

“The Long Room is unique in world cricket and the great privilege of players passing through the Pavilion is very special,” the statement said.

“After this morning’s play, emotions were running high, and words were unfortunately exchanged with some of the Australian team, by a small number of members.

“We have unreservedly apologised to the Australian team and will deal with any member who has not maintained the standard we expect through our disciplinary processes.

“It was not necessary to eject anyone from the ground and we are pleased to say that there was no repeat of this as the players resumed the field for this afternoon’s session.”

The MCC later revealed that three members had been suspended and would not be permitted back to Lord’s while an investigation takes place.

“We maintain that the behaviour of a small number of members was completely unacceptable and while there was no suggestion by Pat Cummins in the post-match press conference that there was any physical altercation, it remains wholly unacceptable to behave in such a way which goes against the values of the club,” the MCC statement said.

“MCC condemns the behaviour witnessed and once again we reiterate our apology to Cricket Australia. We are thoroughly disappointed to be talking about poor behaviour when the Long Room as stated by Pat Cummins himself, is otherwise renowned for being ‘really welcoming’.

– with foxsports.com.au