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Ricky Ponting in crack at Jonny Bairstow as Ashes protest sparks fan frenzy

The extraordinary protest incident at Lord's left the cricket world in a state of disbelief.

andrew reid
·4-min read
Pictured right is Aussie cricket great Ricky Ponting and Jonny Bairstow on the left.
Ricky Ponting had a funny crack at Jonny Bairstow after protest scenes at Lord's that had the cricket world talking. Pic: Getty

Ricky Ponting has taken a hilarious swipe at England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow after a protest incident during the second Test at Lord's that had the whole cricket world talking. The image of Bairstow holding an oil protester under his arms as he carried them off the famous ground has already become the photo of the Ashes series so far.

Bairstow was hailed a hero and even earned the praise of the British Prime Minister for his efforts, after stepping in to help thwart two Just Stop Oil demonstrators from bursting on to the ground five minutes after the start of play and trying to cause havoc by throwing orange paint powder on the pitch. One was apprehended by Bairstow - a keen rugby league player in his youth - who picked up the protester and carried him 50 metres to the boundary.

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“A good start from Jonny this morning. Chucked it up over his shoulder,” Ponting joked on Sky Sports commentary. "I wasn’t game enough to say it earlier on... But the one chance that’s come his way, he’s held onto so far.”

The subtle swipe from the former Australia captain was a clear dig at Bairstow, who put down a nubmer of chances in the first Test. Ponting was far from alone though, with the England wicketkeeper copping a social media pile-on after a protest disruption slammed as "ridiculous" by many viewers.

Steve Smith helps put Aussies in control

Thankfully for cricket fans, the protest disruption only lasted five minutes, with England's decision to bowl first under cloudy skies at Lord's soon coming back to bite them. David Warner posted his first half-century in nine innings with a solid 66, before Steve Smith and Travis Head took the first innings away from the home side with classy half centuries of their own. Smith finished day one unbeaten on 85, while Head smashed 77 off 73 balls to put the Aussies in control at 5-339.

Steve Smith finished unbeaten on 85 on a superb opening day of the second Ashes Test for Australia. Pic: Getty
Steve Smith finished unbeaten on 85 on a superb opening day of the second Ashes Test for Australia. Pic: Getty

Marnus Labuschagne also showed signs of being closer to his best with 47, before he was against caught behind edging a ball outside off stump. Usman Khawaja never really looked comfortable and was dropped by Joe Root on one, before being clean bowled by the impressive Josh Tongue for 17.

Tongue was the pick of England's bowlers, finishing the day with figures of 2-88. His second wicket to remove Warner was even better than the first, swinging in and hitting the seam before beating the Aussie opener all ends up to take his leg stump.

England will ultimately be ruing two dropped catches though, with Ollie Pope guilty of squandering a much easier chance in slips, when Warner was on 20. Joe Root picked up two important wickets as England's only spin option, removing Head and then Cameron Green in the same over on a day that largely belonged to Australia.

with agencies

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