The second Ashes Test at Lord’s was briefly interrupted on the first morning due to two protestors from the Just Stop Oil movement storming onto the pitch and causing disruption. Protesters were able to sprinkle orange powder across the outfield before security and players interfered.
The incident occurred shortly after England pacer James Anderson delivered the first over of the day to Australia starter David Warner. The two men emerged from the stands and made their way toward the square, releasing orange powder as they went.
Bairstow grabs the Protestors
The disruption was brief as security staff and players quickly dealt with the intruders. Jonny Bairstow, England’s wicketkeeper, seized one of the demonstrators and dragged him off the pitch, eventually dropping him outside the boundary marks.
Following the incident, ground crew quickly collected the scattered powder, and the play began after a five-minute delay. The demonstrators, however, were not unaffected by the interruption. The Metropolitan Police stated on Twitter shortly after their first day’s infiltration that three people had been detained and brought into custody.
“We are aware of protesters on the Lord’s Cricket Ground pitch today. Police have arrested three people and taken them into custody,” the Metropolitan Police said on Twitter according to Reuters.
This year, the Just Stop Oil movement grabbed headlines by disrupting a number of athletic events in England, including the Premiership Rugby final and the World Snooker Championship. Both teams refocused on the game as the Ashes Test match resumed, anxious to make progress after the sudden interruption.
England lost the first test match of the Ashes 2023 and are desperately looking for a win in the second match. They lost the first match by a narrow margin of 2 wickets. The partnership between Australian skipper Pat Cummins and Nathon Lyon turned the game for the visitors. The Australian spinner Nathon Lyon will be playing his 100th consecutive test match. He will be looking to spoil the party for the hosts at Lords.
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