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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Fraser Watson

Australia cricketers confronted by furious MCC members chanting 'cheat' in fresh footage

Lord's, HQ, the 'Home of Cricket', a venue where long standing MCC members will congregate to watch Test matches in a respectful and often conservative manner.

Except, it seems, when Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey has just stumped Jonny Bairstow in a controversial manner. That incident, which overshadowed an otherwise gripping Ashes battle and Ben Stokes' brilliant century in vain, promoted scenes never witnessed before within the famous long room.

As the players walked off for lunch, the usual polite applause was instead replaced by heckling and accusations of cheating towards the tourists. The notion of David Warner in a verbal exchange in any situation is hardly a revelation, but for the mild-mannered Usman Khawaja to be seen in a heated confrontation with those in suits can be considered extraordinary.

Indeed, three members of the MCC have since been suspended after the authority released a statement on Sunday night. Clarifying the situation, it was confirmed they would not attend Lord's until further notice. "They will not be permitted back to Lord's whilst the investigation takes place," read the statement.

And further footage has now shown that the shouting wasn't just confined to the long room itself. As the Australians reached the top of the stairs, there were more MCC members lying in wait to make remarks about conduct, as well as a few lone shouts relating to the sandpaper scandal of 2018.

The debate is likely to rage right into Headingley this Thursday, in what is now a must win match for Ben Stokes and co if they are to regain the Ashes this summer. And judging by the England captain's words afterwards, his players won't be short of motivation.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Was Alex Carey right to run out Jonny Bairstow? Comment below.

Australia's players continued to be heckled as they climbed the stairs (Twitter)

"Would I want to win a game in that manner? No," he told reporters. "If the shoe was on the other foot I'd have had a think about the whole spirit of the game." Coach Brendon McCullum further fuelled the fire by quipping: "I can't imagine we'll be having a beer any time soon."

It has, however, been widely accepted that Carey's actions were within the laws of the game. Thinking the over was done and dusted, Bairstow ambled up the wicket, with the keeper sharply hurling the ball at the stumps and leaving the third umpire with little option when the decision went upstairs.

Tension then turned to turmoil as the atmosphere for the remainder of the day become hostile, with the 32,000 crowd loudly booing the tourists. Stuart Broad also made a series of jibes at Australian players whilst batting himself, telling Carey "that's all you'll be remembered before" as Pat Cummins' men eventually secured a 43-run win and 2-0 series lead.

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