Just after the first over of the second Ashes 2023 Test, at Lord’s, England wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow gave the world a hilarious and iconic Ashes moment to remember.
Not with the bat, not with the gloves, and not even related to his cricketing skills. But Jonny Bairstow showcased his brute, muscular strength by carrying a protester out of the Lord’s playing field all by himself!
Between the end of the first over of the match by James Anderson and the start of the second over by Stuart Broad, an Oil Proster rushed into the center of the ground, nearby where the action was taking place, to express his issues and protest.
Wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow, who was ready to walk across the other end after the change of the over, was quick to react. He lifted up this protester and without the help of the ground police or any official, himself charged this man out of the ground, even as the protestor continued to shout his slogans, and handed him to the authorities who then dragged him away.
Even India cricketer R Ashwin was left in splits with this act of Jonny Bairstow and posted the video.
Good start to the 2nd test.
Bairstow has done some heavy lifting already😂😂 #Ashes2023 pic.twitter.com/f0JcZnCvEr— Ashwin 🇮🇳 (@ashwinravi99) June 28, 2023
Jonny Bairstow just picked up a pitch invader and escorted him off the field #Ashes pic.twitter.com/BKEq95DYib
— Josh Schönafinger (@joshschon) June 28, 2023
Jonny Bairstow carrying a protester off the field of play…#Ashes pic.twitter.com/H2JGCUkMHo
— The Cricketer (@TheCricketerMag) June 28, 2023
The MCC and the authorities at Lord’s had already been wary and warned of such a situation because the Oil Protests have been going on in London for a while. So, it shocking and speaks to the incompetence of the police at Lord’s that a protester was able to jump the hoardings and get in the middle of the Lord’s, and, worringly, near the pitch which he could have damaged and caused unwanted repercussions in the match.
It is not to forget that Jonny Bairstow is coming off a long leg injury layoffs, and this action, though he seemed it necessary to do it himself, could have been devastating had he reinjured himself. Nonetheless, the fans on social media had a good laugh at this.
Earlier, England captain Ben Stokes won the toss and elected to bowl first, citing overcast conditions and greenery on the Lord’s pitch. Both England and Australia have made one change to their line-ups. England dropped off-spinning all-rounder Moeen Ali for fast bowler Josh Tongue while Australia bring back Mitchell Starc for Scott Boland.
Teams:
Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Cameron Green, Alex Carey(w), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins(c), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
England (Playing XI): Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes(c), Jonny Bairstow(w), Stuart Broad, Ollie Robinson, Josh Tongue, James Anderson
Jonny Bairstow just picked up a pitch invader and escorted him off the field #Ashes pic.twitter.com/BKEq95DYib
— Josh Schönafinger (@joshschon) June 28, 2023
