Usman Khawaja slams ‘disrespectful’ behaviour from MCC members

Usman Khawaja was pulled back by security after speaking to one the members inside the long room 😳

🗣️ “I’ve NEVER seen scenes like that!” pic.twitter.com/2RnjiNssfw

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) July 2, 2023

More footage of MCC members booing the Aussies with the kind of venom usually reserved for when someone cuts the nose off the treasurer’s Brie pic.twitter.com/VckbN60t9Z

— The Upshot (@UpshotTowers) July 2, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Let’s have a look at what the elite MCC members have to say

As it’s not on the Western Terrace nothing will be done. pic.twitter.com/mzb4XF6agp

— ꜱɪʀ ꜰʀᴇᴅ ʙᴏʏᴄᴏᴛᴛ (@FredBoycott) July 2, 2023

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Khawaja added he always preferred to play at the Lord’s before this. “The crowd is great, particularly the members are great, and some of the stuff that was coming out of the members’ mouths is really disappointing and I wasn’t just going stand by and cop it. So I just talked to a few of them.

“A few of them were throwing out some pretty big allegations and I just called them up on it and they kept going, and I was like, well, this is your membership here. So I’m just pointing them out. But it’s pretty disrespectful, to be honest. I just expect a lot better from the members.”

The MCC released a statement apologising to the Australian team for the incident.

“The Long Room is unique in world cricket and the great privilege of players passing through the Pavilion is very special,” the statement read.

“After this morning’s play, emotions were running high, and words were unfortunately exchanged with some of the Australian team, by a small number of members.

“We have unreservedly apologized to the Australian team and will deal with any member who has not maintained the standard we expect through our disciplinary processes.

“It was not necessary to eject anyone from the ground and we are pleased to say that there was no repeat of this as the players resumed the field for this afternoon’s session.”

Asked about the Bairstow dismissal, Khawaja said: “It’s is what it is. We copped the same thing at Edgbaston. Obviously, it’s a little different here. It’s disappointing, to say the least. You know, we always try to play the cricket, in our best spirits, and we’ve said since Patty has taken over, since Andrew McDonald has taken over, winning is as important as how we win.

“The decision again was in the umpire’s hands. If the umpire deemed it a dead ball today, it was a dead ball. Just like yesterday’s catch by Mitchell Starc, which was ruled not out. We don’t fully agree with it, but you have to accept the umpire’s decision.

“That’s why the umpires are there. So I mean, there’s always grey areas in cricket. And the way it played out I guess in some respects, is kind of disappointing. I love Stuey [Stuart] Broad. I think he’s one of my favourite cricketers. The way he plays, the way he’s always got a smile on his face and he was pretty riled up out there, which you don’t want to see. But yeah, it is what it is.”

The tempers flared following the controversial dismissal of Jonny Bairstow.

“MCC came and apologised for the behaviour of some of the members,” Australia captain Pat Cummins said in the post-match conference.

“I think some of them might lose their memberships over the way they behaved. Other than that one time, they were fantastic all week. I think they were just quite aggressive and abusive towards some of our players, which I know the MCC weren’t too happy with.”