The action emerged early in the game on Wednesday as James Anderson completed his over, two people emerged from the stands and moved towards the pitch. The Just Stop Oil protestors released powder on the ground as security staff and Jonny Bairstow tackled them. Bairstow carried the protestors out of the ground and the match resumed after a delay of 5 minutes.

The metropolitan police took action against the Just Stop Oil protestors and arrested three people. “We are aware of protesters on the Lord’s Cricket Ground pitch today, Wednesday, 28 June. Police have arrested three people and taken them into custody,” the metropolitan police said in a statement.

Just Stop Oil

Just Stop Oil is an environmental activist group who are demanding that the government must stop issuing oil or other fossil fuels exploration licenses in the United Kingdom. The organization describes itself as “a coalition of groups working together to ensure the government commits to halting new fossil fuel licensing and production”.

The Just Stop Oil activists are known to disrupt international events, especially sports events. They barged into the fields during the premier football league matches and used similar disruptions to amplify their voices.

During the World Test Championship Final (WTC) between India and Australia at The Oval in London, the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided to prepare a backup pitch, just in case the Just Stop Oil protestors invade the ground and ruin the primary pitch.

Updated: 28 Jun 2023, 06:57 PM IST