Alex Carey and his Australia teammates will walk through the Long Room at Lord’s on Friday, a year on from the volcanic day of Ashes cricket when they drew the scorn of the ground’s members. A repeat of those scenes feels unlikely, it must be said, although Marylebone Cricket Club is not taking any chances.
After the angry eruption triggered by Carey’s controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow in the second Ashes Test, the pavilion arrangements have been tightened up.
As well as three MCC members receiving bans after a club investigation – one returns in time for the next home Ashes series, as it happens – the tourists will be given more space. The ropes in the Long Room that separate the members and the players have been pushed back for internationals this season, widening the walkway for teams.
The stairwells, where chants of “cheat, cheat, cheat” were heard as Australia returned to the away dressing room, are also off limits when players are on the move.
Faces at the club were left as red as some of the trousers in the stands on the day, with Guy Lavender, the MCC chief executive, addressing the Long Room reminding members of their privileged position so close to the teams.
An unreserved apology to Cricket Australia followed, calling the behaviour of certain individuals “completely unacceptable” and confirming the internal investigation. Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald in June, Lavender said: “My broad view is, I don’t think there’s a likelihood of it happening again.”
A chance for Lavender to be proved right comes in the fourth one-day international; a match that starts with the tourists 2-1 up and within striking distance of securing a series win. It is another sell-out at the Home of Cricket – the club is embattled by the stink from next summer’s Test prices at present – although the swell of members in the pavilion is unlikely to match that of last year.
“These things happen in Ashes Test matches,” said Mitch Marsh, Australia’s captain for this tour, when asked about the incident after a training session on Thursday that was forced indoors by the rain. “There’s not an Ashes series that goes by that doesn’t have some sort of drama. But we’re just wrapped to be back here.
“There hasn’t been [much talk about it among the players]. We’ve really moved on from that. There’s always excitement playing at Lord’s. It’s the greatest ground in the world – bar the Waca of course – with all the history and the tradition. Not many of the blokes are training today. I think they just came in for the lunch.”
For Carey, under orders from his captain, Pat Cummins, on the day, and playing to the laws, the Long Room walk may also bring a bit of closure. He endured a tough tour after the incident through a combination of public abuse and Mark Wood’s pace. Carey went on to lose his place to Josh Inglis in Australia’s one-day side, instead carrying the drinks when the 50-over World Cup was secured last winter.
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The slump in runs has already been overcome either side of a six-month gap in cricket this year. The left-hander’s most recent Test outing was an unbeaten 98 to complete a tense run chase in Christchurch in March, New Zealand beaten 2-0 with it, while his two innings in this series have returned scores of 74 and 77 not out. The former was central to Australia’s lead, flipping the second ODI at Headingley through a pivotal 49-run 10th-wicket stand with Josh Hazlewood.
Asked if the mild-mannered Carey had been spurred on by events last summer, Marsh said: “I don’t think that’s in his character. But Alex certainly loves playing England. We all do. The fans are always incredible and it’s always a tough challenge playing against England. I think he’s just wrapped to be back playing for Australia.”
Two more players are set to return for the 50-over world champions, with Marsh confirming the availability of Adam Zampa and Travis Head after they missed Tuesday’s defeat at Chester-le-Street because of illness and rest respectively.
England, buoyed up by Harry Brook’s match-winning century in that match and now seeking to set up a decider in Bristol on Sunday, have another decision to make over Jofra Archer’s inclusion as they carefully manage the fast bowler’s schedule.
