Protesters attempted to spoil the Lord’s pitch during the second over of the second Ashes Test between England and Australia.
Two Just Stop Oil protesters ran onto the outfield in the second over of the day armed with orange powder but were stopped before getting to the pitch.
England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow blocked one and carried him all the way off the field before handing him to a steward.
The other was blocked from reaching the pitch by England captain Ben Stokes and Australia opener David Warner before being tackled to the ground by a steward and removed from the playing area.
The disruption caused a slight delay as ground staff cleared powder from the outfield and Bairstow returned to the England dressing room to change his shirt and gloves.
In a statement, Just Stop Oil said: ‘It’s just not cricket to license new oil, gas and coal whilst the climate crisis knocks us for six.
‘The Just Stop Oil supporters are demanding the UK Govt immediately halt and new fossil fuel projects in the UK and are calling on Lord’s to make a statement demanding the same.
‘In recent weeks, Asia has been experiencing a historic heatwave. Reports indicate that cricket will be the hardest hit of all the major pitch sports by the extreme conditions wrought by the climate crisis—much of the cricketing world is at serious risk.
‘Lord’s Cricket Ground boasts about being powered by 100% renewable energy, yet their principal partner is JP Morgan, the world’s worst fossil bank that contributed $317 billion in fossil fuel financing from 2016 to 2020.’
A Just Stop Oil protester disrupted the World Snooker Championships last month, throwing powder over one of the tables at the Crucible.
One protester from the organisation also tied himself to a goalpost at Goodison Park during Everton’s Premier League clash against Newcastle United last season.
Security has been heightened around major cricket matches due to the threat of protests and the ICC prepared a reserve pitch for the recent World Test Championship final at The Oval in case the original one was damaged.
England’s journey to Lord’s before the Test against Ireland earlier this month was briefly held up by protesters.
In 1975, the Ashes Test at Headingley was abandoned as a draw after vandals campaigning for the release from prison of a convicted criminal sabotaged the pitch with oil and knives.
England, who aiming to level the five-match Ashes series following a two-wicket defeat at Edgbaston, won the toss at Lord’s and elected to bowl in overcast conditions.
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