England fan’s life ban for ugly Lord’s clash with Australian team may be overturned

An English cricket fan’s life ban following an incident involving Australia players during the Ashes Test at Lord’s in 2023 may be overturned, despite the hefty sanction that was initially handed out for his “completely unacceptable” behaviour in the Long Room.

The MCC immediately suspended three members on the day of the incident, after the behaviour – which followed the dismissal of Jonny Bairstow at a crucial time during the match – was caught on camera and called out by Pat Cummins after the match.

A four-month investigation saw each of those members issued with suspensions for varying severity of the charge of “abusive, offensive or inappropriate behaviour or language”.

One was banned for two and a half years, a second was barred for four and a half years, and a third was expelled from the club. That expulsion is now subject to review, according to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday.

However, Usman Khawaja – who was targeted by the unruly fans – said he would not seek to challenge a more lenient penalty if the member in question has learnt from the experience.

“I’m a big believer in second chances, as long as you learn from your mistakes,” he told the paper.

The Long Room at Lord’s is unusual in world cricket, as it requires players to pass within close proximity to members on their way between the playing field and the dressing room.

At the start of the lunch interval on day five of the controversial match in 2023 and moments after the Bairstow dismissal, Khawaja and teammate David Warner stopped during the barrage of abuse and challenged the members about their behaviour.

The MCC, founded in 1787, is the owner of Lord’s and describes itself as the guardian of the laws of the game.

Images of the incident showed security holding back members, who were shouting at and arguing with the Australian players.

“If these guys have learned from their mistakes and they’re never going to spray players as they’re walking off the field 30 centimetres from their face, that’s fine,” Khawaja said.

“But there needs to be some sort of remorse and understanding shown and that’s for the MCC. I’m all for second chances, I’m not a guy that holds grudges, but I do think you need to learn from your mistakes and avoid doing them again.”

The members were widely condemned, although the inappropriate behaviour was not restricted to the three who faced punishment. Chants of “cheat, cheat, cheat” were heard on the stairwells as Australia returned to the away dressing room.

The MCC’s then-chief executive Guy Lavender addressed the Long Room immediately after the incident and subsequently issued an apology to the Australian team.

“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,” he said in a statement on the day.

“MCC condemns the behaviour witnessed and once again we reiterate our apology to Cricket Australia. We are thoroughly disappointed to be talking about poor behaviour when the Long Room, as stated by Pat Cummins himself, is otherwise renowned for being ‘really welcoming’.”

The organisation has taken steps to better control members in the area, including by widening the players’ access path and restricting access on the stairwells.

The first Ashes Test since the controversial 2023 series begins in Perth on 21 November.

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