MCC members ‘could lose membership’ after confrontation with Usman Khawaja and David Warner

Pat Cummins believes some Marylebone Cricket Club members could lose their membership after Usman Khawaja and David Warner were involved in a confrontation when they left the pitch at lunch on the final day of the second Ashes Test after a controversial morning session.

Australia were booed off and subjected to chants of “same old Aussies, always cheating” by a furious Lord’s crowd following the controversial dismissal of Jonny Bairstow by wicketkeeper Alex Carey.

As they walked off to a barrage of abuse, video showed Khawaja stopping to confront an MCC member in the Lord’s Long Room as the Australian batter appeared to take offence at a comment from the man in question.

Security guards then had to step between Khawaja and the member, before shepherding the player towards the dressing room.

“The MCC came and apologised for some of the behaviour of some of the members,” Cummins said after the game, which Australia won by 43 runs to take a 2-0 lead in the series.

“I think some of them might lose their membership over the way they behaved. Other than that one time they were fantastic all week, the members here are normally fantastic, really welcoming.

“I think they were just quite aggressive and abusive towards some of our players which I know the MCC weren’t too happy with.”

Fellow opening batter Warner also stopped to make a comment to some of the members and a further video showed the extent of the vitriol directed at the Australians as they climbed the stairs.

The MCC released a statement condemning the actions of the member. A spokesperson said: “The Long Room is unique in world cricket and the great privilege of players passing through the Pavilion is very special. After this morning’s play, emotions were running high, and words were unfortunately exchanged with some of the Australian team, by a small number of Members.

“We have unreservedly apologised to the Australian Team and will deal with any Member who has not maintained the standard we expect through our disciplinary processes. It was not necessary to eject anyone from the ground and I am pleased to say that there was no repeat of this as the players resumed the field for this afternoon’s session."

Cricket Australia have also asked the MCC to investigate the incidents, saying: “Australian management has requested the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) investigate several incidents involving spectators in the members area during lunch on day five of the Lord’s Test.

“It is alleged players and staff from the Australian team were verbally abused, with some being physically contacted, as they made their way to lunch through the members area.”

The controversy occurred when Bairstow was given out with England on 193-5, chasing a daunting target of 371.

Bairstow had ducked under a bouncer from Cameron Green, tapped the crease and began to walk down to prod the pitch when Carey sent an under-arm throw in after catching the ball, leaping for joy as he hit the stumps. There was confusion in the middle, Bairstow seemingly believing the ball was dead at the end of the over but Australia were happy to proceed with a deeply divisive appeal and the Englishman was given out after a TV review

Lord’s is typically renowned as the most well-behaved ground in the country but the sold-out crowd of almost 32,000 burst into jeers and repeated refrains of “same old Aussies, always cheating”.

A bitter row about the ‘spirit of cricket’ will surely follow, while Bairstow’s lack of attention to detail is also liable to receive plenty of attention.

Stuart Broad threw himself into the row, seemingly picked up on stump microphone telling Carey he would be remembered forever for his actions, and later making an ostentatious show of grounding his bat behind the line at the end of an over.

England captain Ben Stokes then smashed his way to an angry 150 after the dismissal – going on a six-hitting rampage as he set out for apparent retribution, hammering his way to a jaw-dropping hundred.

However, when he eventually fell with 70 runs still needed, England’s chances of victory were all but over and it was confirmed as Josh Tongue was the last man out with the hosts a frustrating 43 runs short.

Additional reporting by PA