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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Fraser Watson

Australia star appears to point and laugh at furious England fans in Jonny Bairstow row

The temperature might have been rising in the long room at Lord's on Sunday afternoon but one Australia star saw the funny side as he made his way up the steps.

The Jonny Bairstow dismissal just before lunch at Lord's prompted the sort of scenes never previously associated with the 'home of cricket', as a 32,000 strong crowd relentlessly booed the tourists. And the volatility was extended to the MCC members, with David Warner and Usman Khawaja both involved in heated exchanges after being heckled.

There was even shouts of 'sandpaper' directed at the away side. Those jibes related back to 2018, when Steve Smith and Warner were suspended after the Aussies were found to be using the item to tamper with the ball on their tour of South Africa.

Indeed, three members of the MCC have since been suspended with Cricket Australia demanding an investigation into the incident. The fallout has continued into Monday, with the likes of Sir Geoffrey Boycott demanding a public apology from the tourists.

But amid the chaos, one star was spotted seemingly enjoying himself. The abuse continued as the players went up to the stairs, with Matthew Renshaw turning to address the members before settling down for refreshments.

Appearing to mock members, he turned, pointed, and laughed out loud at the fuming spectators. But many would argue it's no more than the members deserved, with the authority themselves later releasing a statement condemning what transpired.

The unsavoury scenes continued as the players made their way off (@wwos/Twitter)
Bairstow wonders off after his dismissal (Getty Images)

HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Australia have withdrawn their appeal over Jonny Bairstow? Comment below.

“We maintain that the behaviour of a small number of Members was completely unacceptable," it read. "And 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."

Renshaw is yet to start a Test in England this summer, but was on the pitch as a substitute fielder when keeper Alex Carey opted to run out Bairstow after he'd wondered out of his crease. Relations between the two sides promptly turned hostile, with Stuart Broad later telling Carey "that's all you'll be remembered for."

But skipper Cummins disputed the notion he should have withdrawn the appeal. Speaking afterwards, he said: "I think Carey saw it happen a few balls previous, there was no pause. Catch it and throw at the stumps. I thought it was totally fair play."

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