Alex Carey and the Australian team will walk through the historic Long Room at Lord's, marking one year since the dramatic Ashes Test that saw them face the wrath of the ground’s members. While such heated scenes are unlikely to repeat, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has still tightened security around the pavilion to avoid any incidents.
Carey’s controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow in last year's second Ashes Test ignited a fierce reaction from the crowd, leading the MCC to take action. Three members were banned after an internal investigation, with one set to return in time for the next Ashes series. To prevent a repeat, the ropes in the Long Room have been moved back, giving players more space, while the stairwells, where chants of “cheat” echoed last year, are now off-limits during player movement.
The MCC was quick to apologise to Cricket Australia for the behaviour of certain individuals, calling it "completely unacceptable." Guy Lavender, the MCC chief executive, expressed his belief earlier this year that such an incident is unlikely to happen again. That theory will be tested during the fourth one-day international, where Australia leads 2-1 and looks to secure the series.
Australia's captain for this tour, Mitch Marsh, reflected on the previous Ashes incident, stating that drama is inevitable in these historic rivalries but pointed out the team had moved on. He shared the squad's excitement about playing at Lord's, a ground they hold in high regard despite the controversy. Marsh humorously added that many players showed up at the ground mainly for lunch.
For Carey, who followed his captain Pat Cummins’ orders that fateful day and acted within the laws of the game, walking through the Long Room again may offer some closure. He faced public backlash and the pressure of Mark Wood’s pace during the tour, which eventually led to him losing his spot in Australia’s one-day side to Josh Inglis.
Despite the challenges, Carey has bounced back. His most recent Test performance saw him score an unbeaten 98 in a crucial run chase against New Zealand, while his two innings in this series have been equally impressive, with scores of 74 and 77 not out. Marsh downplayed any suggestion that last summer’s events fuelled Carey’s performances, noting instead that he simply enjoys playing against England.
Australia is set to welcome back Adam Zampa and Travis Head for the upcoming match after they missed the previous game due to illness and rest. Meanwhile, England, riding high on Harry Brook’s match-winning century in Chester-le-Street, faces a decision on whether to include Jofra Archer in the next match as they aim to force a series decider in Bristol.
In other news, England’s Josh Hull has been ruled out of the three-Test tour of Pakistan in October due to a quad injury suffered during his debut against Sri Lanka.