Ashes cricket: Anti-oil protesters spark dramatic scenes at Lord’s

England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow carried a protester off the ground amid extraordinary scenes in London | WATCH

Jonny Bairstow removes a protester early on day one of the second Ashes Test. Picture: Getty Images

Just stop Oil protesters were booed by the sold out crowd at Lord’s Cricket Ground as two men and one woman interrupted the first day of the second Ashes Test.

The three caused a delay after running out and throwing orange powder onto the square.

England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow was quick to react, stopping one of the men from reaching the wicket itself, and carrying him unassisted to the outfield, dumping him unceremoniously to the security staff.

Another man made it to the bowler’s approach, while a 69-year-old woman was stopped near the boundary.

Officials had been on high alert for such actions, with security staff checking patron’s bags carefully upon arrival.

Marylebone Cricket Club chief executive Guy Lavender said he “condemns in the strongest possible terms” the protesters who invaded the pitch.

Mr Lavender said: “(We) condemn in the strongest possible terms today’s pitch incursion and with the behaviour of the protesters 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.”

Ben Stokes and David Warner of try to stop a ‘Just Stop Oil’ protester as Jonny Bairstow carries off another. Picture: Getty Images

The three protesters would have spent a considerable sum — more than $1000 and much more if purchased off scalpers — in order to obtain the highly sought after tickets.

Just Stop Oil called on the UK government to immediately halt new oil, gas and coal projects and called on Lord’s officials to make a statement demanding an end to new fossil fuels.

A Just Stop Oil spokesperson claimed that Lord’s cricket ground boasted about being powered by 100 per cent renewable energy, “yet their principal partner is JP Morgan, the world’s worst ‘fossil bank’, that contributed $317 billion in fossil fuel financing from 2016 to 2020, and continues to ‘greenwash’ to distract from business as usual,’’ the statement said.

The attack at Lord’s follows other highly organised protests from the same organisation at sporting events such as the Premiership Rugby final at Twickenham, the World Championship snooker at Sheffield, and they held up the England cricket team bus on their way to Lord’s before the recent Test against Ireland.

Increasingly their actions have raised the profile of environmental causes but the British public’s tolerance is wearing thing to their antics.