Former Test captain Mark Taylor has condemned the abuse hurled at the Australian players from MCC members inside the renowned Long Room at Lord’s.
Australian opener Usman Khawaja spoke out after he and teammates were confronted by several members during the final day of the second Test in London.
The jeers came as Australia returned to the dressing room during the lunch break following Alex Carey’s controversial dismissal of Jonny Bairstow.
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As debate rages over the fairness of Bairstow’s stumping, Taylor defended the act.
“People say it (Bairstow dismissal) doesn’t look good and it’s not in the spirit of the game but it’s been done for years by keepers,” he told Nine.
“I remember Rod Marsh doing it - throwing it at stumps to see if he could find a batsman wandering out of his crease. It’s gone on forever.
“Jonny Bairstow, like any player, needs to be reminded that as a Test match batsman, the most important thing you can do is stay in. Don’t give the opposition an opportunity to get you out.
“He learnt a tough lesson today, as Mitchell Starc did yesterday about how to hang onto a catch in the outfield. You might not like the decision – sometimes it goes for you, sometimes it goes against you but learn from it.”
Taylor described the actions of the members – who have since been suspended – as “really disappointing.”
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Unlike any other cricket venue in the world, the Long Room at Lord’s provides MCC and visiting members with intimate access to the players as both sides must use the walkway to enter or exit the field.
“It is a privilege for Australian cricketers and English cricketers to play here but it’s also a privilege for members to be in (the Long Room),” Taylor said.
“To see the players go past them, it’s part of the beauty of Lord’s.
“I don’t like hearing abuse full stop but particularly from members here at Lord’s to any player, not just Australian players, any players.
“In my opinion, it’s not on.”
Former England batsman Mark Butcher also weighed in on Bairstow’s dismissal.
Bairstow stunned by Carey’s act
“For me, it’s just as plain as day out. And pretty much to all of the other professional cricketers I have spoken to, they all say exactly the same thing,” he told the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast.
Butcher extended no sympathy to Bairstow, instead expressing his bewilderment at the wicketkeeper’s careless behaviour at the crease.
“What was he doing? Where was he going?” he said.
“Why didn’t he make sure that he knew where the ball was and what was going on before he left?
“And of course now we’ve got an international incident.
“We’ve got Jonny Farquaad or whatever his name is getting banned from the MCC. We’ve got people saying they’re not going to have a beer with each other after the game.
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“And what’s worse, people who have definitely done worse things being holier than thou on social media saying how awful the whole thing is and how you would never have done anything like it. Nonsense.”
Earlier this week, the Prime Ministers of Australia and England weighed in on the ‘spirit of cricket’ dispute.
The third Test at Headingley begins on Thursday at 8pm AEST.
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