The members of the MCC have “brought shame” by abusing the Australian cricketers during the Lord’s Test and a “tougher stance” will be taken on their “unacceptable” behaviour, the club said after deciding to restrict their access in the Long Room.
The MCC had “unreservedly apologised” to the Australian team for the behaviour of some of its members and suspended three of them after a few players of the visiting team were abused in the Long Room during the Lord’s Test.
“I cannot downplay the impact that the behaviour of a few members has had on the perception of our club. The members shown on camera have brought shame on MCC,” MCC chair Bruce Carnegie-Brown wrote in an email to Club’s members according to The Guardian. “Their actions hinder our efforts to promote the positive things our club does to promote and celebrate the game of cricket. Their actions inhibit our ability to carry out our role as guardian of the laws of cricket and the spirit of cricket.”
Australia batters Usman Khawaja and David Warner were involved in a heated exchange with spectators in the Long Room following Jonny Bairstow’s controversial stumping on the final day of the Lord’s Test.
The Custodian of the game’s laws, MCC has decided to “expand the roped-off area through which players walk when they go between the dressing rooms and the pitch” and also barred members from using the stairs while teams are walking through the building.
The new rules will be implemented for the first time during the women’s T20I between England and Australia on Saturday.
