Jonny Bairstow, the England wicketkeeper, has been hailed as a hero by his teammate Joshua Tongue for his quick thinking and actions during a pitch invasion incident on the first day of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s on Wednesday (June 28). Bairstow’s intervention prevented a potential disruption to the match and protected the playing surface.
After winning the toss and opting to field, England were preparing to begin the second over of the match when the game was abruptly halted by the presence of a group of protestors from the organization Just Stop Oil. The protestors had invaded the ground, carrying orange-colored chalk and paint.
As Stuart Broad prepared to deliver the second over, two men wearing Just Stop Oil T-shirts sprinted toward the pitch with their hands filled with orange powder. However, Bairstow swiftly reacted, intercepting one of the intruders and preventing any damage to the wicket. He lifted the man and carried him to the boundary line, where stewards took over the situation.
Following the incident, Bairstow had to leave the field temporarily to change his whites and equipment. Meanwhile, ground staff attended to the outfield, ensuring that the pitch was not affected. Once Bairstow returned to the ground and the powder was cleared, play resumed.
One Just Stop Oil protester was carried off the pitch at Lord's Cricket Ground by England's Jonny Bairstow – as activists threw orange powder during play.https://t.co/ngFoEzAwNp pic.twitter.com/3xlfHHLlio
— Sky News (@SkyNews) June 28, 2023
Speaking in a press conference after Day 1, Tongue, who witnessed Bairstow’s intervention, lauded the England wicketkeeper as a hero for his actions. Tongue emphasized the significance of Bairstow’s quick response, as any disruption to the pitch could have resulted in a potential abandonment of the game.
“If Jonny didn’t do what he did, who knows where the game could be now? It could’ve been called off. He’s a bit of a hero! My back was turned. I heard Jonny shout and then saw him running after him. I probably wouldn’t have gone towards them, just in case they had anything else on them,” Tongue said.
Speaking of the match, despite the protest drama and England’s decision to bowl first under overcast conditions, the visitors were on top of the day’s play on Wednesday as David Warner (66) and Usman Khawaja (18) got them off to a great start. However Tongue, on his Ashes debut, got rid of both the openers but Steve Smith (85 not out) and Travis Head (77) helped Australia continue their dominance over proceedings. Nevertheless, late in the day, England’s off-spinner Joe Root provided his team with renewed hope by taking two crucial wickets. Although, the visitors ended the day on 339/5.
