MCC Restricts Access Of Its Members After Long Room Incident During Lord's Test

The Australian opening pair of Usman Khawaja and David Warner was seen engaging in a heated discussion with members sitting in the Long Room, which is exclusively reserved for MCC members and their guests, following Jonny Bairstow's controversial stumping on the final day of the 2nd Test.

The incident resulted in the security stepping in to separate the cricketers away from the members.

Condemning the episode,?MCC chair Bruce Carnegie-Brown wrote in an email to Club's members according to the 'Guardian', "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."

"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."

On the final day of the Lord's Test, Bairstow had ducked a slow bouncer from Cameron Green and casually stepped out of the crease thinking the ball was 'dead'; only it wasn't, as Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey aimed the ball at the stumps after which the England batter was adjudged out by the third umpire.

The event led to jeers from the home audience attending the match, with chants of 'same old Aussies, always cheating' heard. Later, coaches and captains let their voices heard, with Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes claiming that the spirit of cricket was compromised.

As per the latest development, MCC has decided to "expand the roped-off area through which players walk when they go between the dressing rooms and the pitch". It also barred members from using the stairs while teams are walking through the building.

The new rules will come to effect during Australia women's team's T20 match against England on Saturday.