England Fan’s Life Ban For Ugly Lord’s Clash With Australian Team May Be Overturned

An English cricket fan’s life prohibition pursuing an incident involving Australia players during nan Ashes Test astatine Lord’s successful 2023 whitethorn beryllium overturned, contempt nan hefty punishment that was initially handed retired for his “completely unacceptable” behaviour successful nan Long Room.

The MCC immediately suspended 3 members connected nan time of nan incident, aft nan behaviour – which followed nan dismissal of Jonny Bairstow astatine a important clip during nan lucifer – was caught connected camera and called retired by Pat Cummins aft nan match.

A four-month investigation saw each of those members issued pinch suspensions for varying severity of nan complaint of “abusive, violative aliases inappropriate behaviour aliases language”.

One was banned for 2 and a half years, a 2nd was barred for 4 and a half years, and a 3rd was expelled from nan club. That expulsion is now taxable to review, according to a study successful nan Sydney Morning Herald connected Monday.

However, Usman Khawaja – who was targeted by nan unruly fans – said he would not activity to situation a much lenient punishment if nan personnel successful mobility has learnt from nan experience.

“I’m a large believer successful 2nd chances, arsenic agelong arsenic you study from your mistakes,” he told nan paper.

The Long Room astatine Lord’s is different successful world cricket, arsenic it requires players to walk wrong adjacent proximity to members connected their measurement betwixt nan playing section and nan dressing room.

At nan commencement of nan luncheon interval connected time 5 of nan arguable lucifer successful 2023 and moments aft nan Bairstow dismissal, Khawaja and teammate David Warner stopped during nan barrage of maltreatment and challenged nan members astir their behaviour.

The MCC, founded successful 1787, is nan proprietor of Lord’s and describes itself arsenic nan guardian of nan laws of nan game.

Images of nan incident showed information holding backmost members, who were shouting astatine and arguing pinch nan Australian players.

“If these guys person learned from their mistakes and they’re ne'er going to spray players arsenic they’re stepping disconnected nan section 30 centimetres from their face, that’s fine,” Khawaja said.

“But location needs to beryllium immoderate benignant of remorse and knowing shown and that’s for nan MCC. I’m each for 2nd chances, I’m not a feline that holds grudges, but I do deliberation you request to study from your mistakes and debar doing them again.”

The members were widely condemned, though nan inappropriate behaviour was not restricted to nan 3 who faced punishment. Chants of “cheat, cheat, cheat” were heard connected nan stairwells arsenic Australia returned to nan distant dressing room.

The MCC’s then-chief executive Guy Lavender addressed nan Long Room instantly aft nan incident and subsequently issued an apology to nan Australian team.

“We support that nan behaviour of a mini number of members was wholly unacceptable and, whilst location was nary proposal by Pat Cummins successful nan post-match property convention that location was immoderate beingness altercation, it remains wholly unacceptable to behave successful specified a way, which goes against nan values of nan club,” he said successful a connection connected nan day.

“MCC condemns nan behaviour witnessed and erstwhile again we reiterate our apology to Cricket Australia. We are thoroughly disappointed to beryllium talking astir mediocre behaviour erstwhile nan Long Room, arsenic stated by Pat Cummins himself, is different renowned for being ‘really welcoming’.”

The organisation has taken steps to better power members successful nan area, including by widening nan players’ entree way and restricting entree connected nan stairwells.

The first Ashes Test since nan arguable 2023 bid originates successful Perth connected 21 November.