LONDON – Two protesters from the Just Stop Oil group ran onto the Lords pitch, briefly disrupting the game about five minutes into the second Ashes cricket test between England and Australia on Wednesday.
The environmental activists tried to spread orange powder on the pitch, but the England and Australia players intervened.
England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow grabbed a protester and carried the person some 50 meters (yards) before releasing him to security forces over the border fences. England captain Ben Stokes and Australia batsman David Warner held down the other protester.
Some orange powder was released, but only on the grass, off the pitch.
Bairstow went to the England dressing room to rid himself of some powder, Lord’s staff quickly cleaned up the small orange that fell on the turf and play resumed about five minutes later.
Just Stop Oil protesters have disrupted other major sporting events in the UK this year. They briefly held up the England team bus during the friendly against Ireland in London this month, targeting Premier League football matches, the Premiership rugby final in Twickenham and the World Snooker Championships in Sheffield.
Activists want the UK government to stop licensing and producing new fuels.
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