The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on Sunday, took strict action following an altercation between its members and Australian players in the iconic Long Room of Lord’s on the final day of the second Ashes Test.
Three members of the MCC were suspended following their heated spat with Usman Khawaja and David Warner in the Long Room as Australia prepared to leave for lunch.
The incident occurred after England’s Jonny Bairstow was controversially stumped by Australia wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
Following the incident, the MCC released a statement and apologised “unreservedly” to the Australian cricket team.
“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,” said MCC in a press release.
“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.”
Australia captain Pat Cummins and opening batter Usman Khawaja also expressed disappointment over the behaviour of MCC members.
“Lord’s is one of my favourite places to come,” said Khawaja. “There’s always respect shown at Lord’s, particularly in the members’ pavilion in the Long Room, but there wasn’t today.
“Some of the stuff that was coming out of the members’ mouths is really disappointing and I wasn’t just going to 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.
“It’s pretty disrespectful, to be honest. I just expect a lot better from the members.”
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