Protesters interrupts and stop the Lord’s Ashes Test play.
During the first morning of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, the proceedings were briefly interrupted by two climate change protesters affiliated with the activist group Just Stop Oil. Carrying orange powder paint, the protesters breached security and entered the pitch, but their advance towards the playing area was thwarted by players and security personnel.
The disruption occurred just before the start of the second over when the two individuals, wearing Just Stop Oil t-shirts, ran onto the pitch from the Grand Stand, eluding the perimeter security. However, their progress was halted as Ben Stokes and David Warner prevented one of the protesters from reaching the playing strip. Stewards quickly apprehended him, while the other protester was picked up and lifted off the pitch by Jonny Bairstow before being escorted away by the police.
Here is the video
Following the incident, the MCC groundstaff promptly cleaned up and removed the powder paint that had spilled onto the outfield. Meanwhile, Bairstow made his way to the dressing room to change into a fresh set of whites. The interruption caused a delay of approximately six minutes before play resumed.
Just Stop Oil is a coalition of environmental action groups known for their involvement in disrupting various high-profile sporting events across the UK over the past year and a half. Their disruptive actions have targeted Premier League football matches, the Premiership rugby union final, and the World Snooker Championship, among others.