NEW DELHI: Following the controversial stumping incident on the final day of the second Ashes Test, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has taken action by suspending three of its members.
Altercations occurred between these members and the Australian team in Lord's Long Room, prompting the MCC to issue an "unreserved apology" to the visiting players.
During the incident, television footage captured a heated exchange between Australian openers Usman Khawaja and David Warner and certain spectators in the Long Room.
This exclusive area is designated for MCC members and their guests.
Security guards intervened to restrain Khawaja, while Warner engaged in a verbal exchange with some of the members, necessitating security personnel to step in.
"Further to the earlier statement, MCC can confirm it has suspended three Members identified from earlier today. They will not be permitted back to Lord's whilst the investigation takes place and were informed of this by MCC Chief Executive, Guy Lavender, this evening," the MCC said in a statement late on Sunday.
The unpleasant exchange came after Bairstow's dismissal, which took place half an hour before lunch.
1/10:Ashes: Australia overcome Stokes scare to win Lord's Test
<p>Read more on TOI Sports<br /></p>Getty Images
2/10:WINNERS
<p>Australia took a stranglehold on the Ashes series after beating England by 43 runs in a fiery and controversial second Test in Lord's on Sunday. <br /></p>Reuters
3/10:2-0 UP
<p>With this win, Australia took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.<br /></p>AP
4/10:MAGNIFICENT STOKES
<p>England captain Ben Stokes hit a stunning 155 after Jonny Bairstow was controversially given out stumped after straying out of his ground on the last day.<br /></p>Getty Images
5/10:FAILED TO CROSS THE LINE
<p>But England were bowled out for 327 chasing a stiff target of 371.<br /></p>Reuters
6/10:SUPER CAPTAIN
<p>Australia captain Pat Cummins led the attack with 3-69.<br /></p>Reuters
7/10:BIZARRE DISMISSAL
<p>Bairstow, the last of England's specialist batsmen, fell in bizarre fashion for 10 when he wandered out of his ground after ducking a Cameron Green bouncer <br /></p>Getty Images
8/10:'ALERT' CAREY
<p>A quick-thinking wicketkeeper Alex Carey under-armed the ball onto the stumps.<br /></p>Getty Images
9/10:BIG WICKET
<p>Bairstow thought he had secured his ground by tapping his bat behind the crease.<br /></p>AP
10/10:ON TO THE NEXT ONE
<p>The third Test at Headingley starts on Thursday. <br /></p>Getty ImagesBairstow had ducked a slow bouncer and immediately left his crease to meet skipper Ben Stokes at the other end, thinking the ball was already "dead".
However, wicketkeeper Alex Carey underarmed the ball into his stumps and the Australians celebrated. Bairstow was given out for 10 after a brief review.
While there is no doubt that Bairstow was out under the laws of the game, many including England coach Brendon McCullum and Stokes believe the dismissal was not in the spirit of the game.
After the dismissal, Australian team was booed and jeered with chants of "same old Aussies, always cheating" reverberating at the Lord's.
"We maintain that the behaviour of a small number of Members was completely unacceptable and whilst 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."
"MCC condemns the behaviour witnessed and once again we re-iterate our apology to Cricket Australia," the statement read.
Bairstow's dismissal left Stokes as the lone recognised batter. The skipper played a knock for the ages, slamming an anger-fuelled 155 off 214 balls that was laced with nine sixes and as many fours.
However once he was out, England slumped to a 43-run loss. The hosts now trail the five-match series 0-2.
KHAWAJA CONDEMNS 'DISRESPECTFUL' BEHAVIOUR
Talking to Channel Nine about the incident after the match, a "disappointed" Khawaja slammed the disrespectful behaviour towards his team.
"Lord's is one of my favourite places to come. There's always respect shown at Lord's, particularly in the Members Pavilion in the Long Room, but there wasn't today. It was very disappointing.
"If anyone asked me where the best place is to play I always say Lord's. The crowd is great, particularly the members are great, and some of the stuff that was coming out of the members' mouths is really disappointing and I wasn't just going stand by and cop it. 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 I was like, well, this is your membership here. So I'm just pointing them out. But it's pretty disrespectful, to be honest. I just expect a lot better from the members."
(With inputs from PTI)
