Jonny Bairstow has been praised as a hero by his England teammate Josh Tongue after he prevented Just Stop Oil protesters from potentially disrupting the opening day of the second Ashes Test at Lord's.
Bairstow took matters into his own hands when two activists from the group ran onto the field armed with orange paint dust, attempting to halt the match after the first over in the morning. Bairstow, who used to play rugby league, swiftly intervened and carried one of the protesters over the boundary edge before handing them over to the stewards.
His quick thinking likely prevented a longer delay if the paint had reached the wicket. The other protester was intercepted by security staff, while another was apprehended in the stands. All three were subsequently arrested.
