Now Just Stop Oil is targeting the Ashes: Jonny Bairstow carries eco zealot off the field
Just Stop Oil activists invaded the green at the Ashes in London on Wednesday and threw orange powder over the grass – when England’s Jonny Bairstow picked up and carried one of the protesters off the field.
Before the second over of the morning session at Lord’s, two Just Stop Oil protesters ran onto the pitch and attempted to throw orange paint across the main playing area.
Jonny Bairstow showed officers how to deal with the saboteurs as he took matters into his own hands, much to the delight of fans on the ground.
Meanwhile, England captain Ben Stokes held back the other protester while closely guarding the pitch, assisted by other players.
Today is the first day of the Ashes 2nd Test match between England and Australia at Lord’s Cricket Ground.
It follows similar disruptive action at snooker games at the Crucible earlier this year, as Just Stop Oil continues its campaign to try and force the UK government to ban new fossil fuel licenses amid the climate crisis.
Video footage showed two activists running onto the green and attempting to throw orange paint across the playing field
A young man wearing a Just Stop Oil t-shirt spreads orange paint powder from a bag
One of the activists is tackled by a member of the security staff
Players step in to limit the disruption caused by protesters on the first day of the test
England’s Jonny Bairstow removes a ‘Just Stop Oil’ field invader during day one of the LV= Insurance Ashes 2nd Test match
One of the two activists is tackled to the ground by two event marshals
Three people were arrested at the scene, the Metropolitan Police said.
The two young people who stormed onto the field both wore white T-shirts identifying them as Just Stop Oil eco-activists.
Marshals and players responded quickly and the protesters were quickly removed from the area.
Jonny Bairstow ran right up to one of the activists and simply grabbed them in his arms as he walked towards the security officers at the edge of the spectators’ stands.
When he reached them, he handed over the demonstrator and returned to the field.
Bairstow then briefly had to leave the field to change his top, after it was covered in orange powder, before returning in front of Broad and starting his spell from the Nursery End.
The second activist was tackled by security personnel in bright blue coats before being escorted off the pitch.
While the duo did manage to throw some orange paint, they were stopped by players from both England and Australia from throwing it onto the batting area.
Shortly afterwards, police carried the demonstrators out of the grounds.
A statement from the Metropolitan Police said: ‘We are aware of protesters at Lord’s Cricket Ground ground today, Wednesday 28 June. The police have arrested and taken into custody three people.’
Speaking on BBC’s Test Match Special, commentator Jonathan Agnew said: ‘Oh no, I don’t like the look of it. We have people running. This is terrible.
‘Bairstow is there. Orange smoke and dust. They try to keep them off the field, protesters two of them. They managed to keep them off the field.
Jonny Bairstow is led off by one of the protesters and carried to the stands. Another is prostate on the floor.
Police officers escort one of the group’s demonstrators from the Lord’s compound
Two people in jackets that read “Event support” dive on top of a protester
Police officers rounded up the activists and carried them in front of cricket fans
“They didn’t manage to damage the field, but they did throw some orange stuff around. We expected this, but their mission to destroy the test has failed and they are being taken away.’
He added: ‘Jonny Bairstow’s dander was up there, he was like a flanker. Let’s hope this doesn’t happen again, let’s hope this is the only attack on the Ashes this year.”
Speaking in the Sky Sports studio, Ricky Ponting sympathized with the players after the highly anticipated match was abandoned so early in the fight.
‘As a batter in the build-up you just want to go. Delays are not ideal for anyone,” he said.
“The batters should just put that out of their minds.”
Ground rangers were then seen sweeping the green so play could get back on track.
Earlier this month, the England cricket team coach was held up by Just Stop Oil protesters ahead of their test match against Ireland at Lord’s.
And Bairstow shared a photo to his Instagram story showing protesters in the middle of the road with the caption, “If we’re a little late, it’s not our fault.”
Just Stop Oil has targeted a number of sporting events this year, including the snooker world championships in Sheffield and the rugby premiership final in Twickenham, while Wimbledon, which starts next week, is expected to be another target for them in a bid to make it awareness of their cause.
The climate change group has been organizing daily protests since April 24, disrupting other high-profile events including the Chelsea Flower Show, as well as holding daily slow marches on major London roads.
On Monday, Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist told LBC that overseeing the action alone has cost £5.5 million since April, on top of the £7.5 million spent overseeing the sequence protests organized by JSO between October and December.
Earlier this month, protest laws were tightened to allow officers to intervene sooner where protesters are marching on the road, forcing them to take to the sidewalk where disturbances are perceived as more than minor.
The Marylebone Cricket Club, owner of Lord’s Cricket Ground, has issued a statement condemning the protesters’ actions.
MCC CEO, Guy Lavender, said: ‘MCC condemns in the strongest terms today’s field raid and the behavior of the protesters involved.
“Not only do their actions endanger themselves and those working on the ground, but they have consistently shown complete disregard for the people who pay to attend events, not just here at Lord’s but across the country at other sporting venues.”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.