The controversial dismissal of English batsman Jonny Bairstow in last night’s Ashes Test has been likened to the infamous “underarm” incident – leaving Australia to fend off accusations of cheating and the historic Marylebone Cricket Club to explain the behaviour of its members.

On a drama-charged final day at Lordās, Australiaās players were continuously jeered by local fans after Alex Carey stumped Jonny Bairstow when he walked out of his crease;Ā players were abused and two were allegedly tripped by some members inside the Lordās Pavilion.
It came as Australiaās 43-run victory in the second Test took them to a 2-0 lead and left them one win away from their first Ashes series win in England in 2001.
But it wasnāt pretty.
Vision from inside the long room as players left the field at lunch showed players were yelled at by several members and labelled ācheatsā.
AAP has been told the abuse from different members included several expletives and calling players a ādisgraceā, āliarsā and telling them to return home.
That prompted both Usman Khawaja and David Warner to stop and approach one man, before two stewards stepped between the members and ushered Warner away.
The drama is understood to have continued up the stairs and out of camera shot before players ate lunch.
āAustralian management has requested the MCC investigate several incidents involving spectators in the members area during lunch on day five of the Lordās Test,ā Cricket Australia said in a statement.
āIt 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.ā
Australian management have declined to detail the extent of the physical contact.
But sources in the pavilion have told AAP at least one person stuck their foot out to trip both Warner and Steve Smith as they walked up the stairs towards lunch.
Warner in particular was left to force his way through the crowd, which was described as intimidating and akin to a London Tube at 5pm on a Friday.
The situation became so serious that MCC CEO Guy Lavender came down to address the members at lunch to remind them to respect players.
Khawaja said afterwards he felt compelled to act.
āIt was very disappointing. If anyone asked me where the best place is to play, I always say Lordās; the crowd is great, particularly the members are great,ā Khawaja told Nineās broadcast.
āBut some of the stuff that was coming out of the membersā mouths was really disappointing and I wasnāt just going to stand by and cop it.
āSo I just talked to a few of them, a few of them (were) throwing out some pretty big allegations and I just called them up on it and they kept going.ā
The MCC were still gathering full details from inside the Pavilion by late on Sunday, but confirmed three people have had their memberships suspended.
There is no suggestion those three people were involved in the physical contact with players.
āMCC can confirm it has suspended three members identified from earlier today,ā it said in a statement.
āThey will not be permitted back to Lordās whilst the investigation takes place.
āWe maintain that the behaviour of a small number of members was completely unacceptable.
āAnd whilst there was no suggestion by Pat Cummins in the post-match press conference that there was any physical altercation, it remains wholly unacceptable to behave in such a way, which goes against the values of the club.
āMCC condemns the behaviour witnessed and once again we reiterate our apology to Cricket Australia.ā
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England were left stunned when Bairstow walked out of his crease after ducking a Cameron Green delivery, only for Alex Carey to underarm the ball at the wicket and have him stumped.
England captain Ben Stokes claimed after the match he would have withdrawn the appeal had he been in Australiaās shoes, reasoning that Bairstow had thought the ball was dead and it was over.
Australia have argued the decision lay with the umpires, and Bairstow left his crease before over was called.
England coach McCullum took Stokesā complaints one step further after play, when describing relations between the two teams.
āI canāt imagine weāll be having a beer with them any time soon,ā McCullum told the BBC.
āWe have three Tests to land some blows and try and win the Ashes. That is where our focus will be.ā
McCullum also indicated he would have ensured England would have withdrawn the appeal, while attacking Australiaās sportsmanship.
āI was lucky enough to play for a long period of time and you learn over a long period that the game and the spirit of the game is so vital to this great game,ā McCullum said.
āItās one thing weāve got that other sports maybe donāt have, and to uphold that is such an important part of it.
āIn the end youāve got to live with the decisions you make, and thatās life.
āBut I feel from our point of view, if we were in the same situation, we mightāve made a different decision.ā
McCullumās comments are likely to raise eyebrows in Australiaās camp, after he twice ran players out through his New Zealand Test career as batsmen were celebrating milestones.
The Bairstow wicket left England 5-193 in pursuit of 371 for victory, before a counter-attacking 155 from Stokes allowed England to get 327 before they were bowled out in pursuit of 371.
Australia were jeered continually by the crowd after that point, and have claimed they copped verbal abuse and physical contact from fans as they walked through the Lordās Long Room at lunch.
Australiaās captain Pat Cummins, though, is adamant there was nothing wrong with the dismissal, and pointed towards similar actions from Bairstow to roll the ball at stumps after gloving it during the match.
āYou see Jonny do it all the time, he did it day one to (David) Warner, he did it in 2019 to Steve (Smith), itās a really common thing for keepers to do,ā Cummins said.
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