Bairstow ignored ECB security advice by dragging away Just Stop Oil protester

Three people arrested after disrupting second Test at Lord’sBairstow hoisted protester into air and carried him off the field

The England and Australia squads were warned this week about the danger of Just Stop Oil activists attempting to disrupt the second Ashes Test, with representatives of the England and Wales Cricket Board’s security unit advising them to stay away from any protesters who made it on to the Lord’s pitch. That scenario became reality just one over into the opening day on Wednesday, with Jonny Bairstow deciding to completely ignore the advice, intercept one of two people sprinting towards the wicket with bags of what appeared to be orange powder paint, and hoist him into the air before carrying him beyond the boundary.

Three protesters were arrested for aggravated trespass although one, a 69-year-old grandmother, did not make it on to the field of play. Two others each sprinted towards a different set of stumps carrying bags of orange powder paint – Bairstow intercepted one while at the other end Ben Stokes, the England captain, and Australia’s David Warner combined to usher the other away from the square before he was rugby tackled by a steward.