Cricket legend Mark Taylor says Lord’s tradition could be banned after abuse of Aussie Ashes stars

Cricket great Mark Taylor has called for members at Lord’s to display more decorum following the ugly scenes on day five of the second Ashes Test or risk putting an end to one of the game’s great traditions.

With the match in the balance, some members of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) publicly vented their frustration, abusing the Australian players not long after Jonny Bairstow’s controversial stumping dismissal.

Players walking past the members into the home and away sheds is uncommon these days around the world – but it has long been one of the great traditions at the home of cricket.

Taylor feels the aggressive ‘behaviour of some MCC members – particularly in the Long Room at Lord’s – was ‘poor to say the least’.

‘In my day they didn’t have ropes separating players and members. Back in the 1980s and ’90s, you just made your way out through the Long Room and excused yourself around members who were sometimes smoking cigars and pipes,’ Taylor told Fairfax Media.

Australian cricket great Mark Taylor has called for members at Lord’s to display more decorum following the ugly scenes on day five of the second Ashes Test

Some members were furious after the dismissal of Jonny Bairstow – and let the Aussies know as they made their way to the change rooms

‘If that tradition, which I really enjoy, is going to continue, this type of poor behaviour needs to be stamped out. 

‘If not, it would mean the access will have to be changed, and that will not be great for the game of Test cricket.’

Taylor did congratulate MCC CEO Guy Lavender for ensuring the tensions didn’t reach boiling point.

Lavender calmed down the fired-up members – and later suspended three individuals over the shocking scenes.

Bairstow left his batting crease when the ball was still in play, with quick-thinking Aussie keeper Alex Carey hitting the stumps a split second later, resulting in heated debate about the tactic’s legality and whether it followed the spirit of the game.

Former English gloveman Eoin Morgan said he couldn’t understand why Ben Stokes and his teammates felt hard done by.

‘I don’t see it compromising the spirit of the game,’ he said on the Sky Sports broadcast.

Ex-England star Eoin Morgan said he didn’t believe the Aussies weren’t playing in the spirit of the game, and backed the call from the umpires

Aussie cult hero Merv Hughes didn’t mince his words, offering this gem: ‘Learn the rules and there wouldn’t be a problem!’

Agony and ecstasy: A gleeful Pat Cummins (right) celebrates Bairstow’s crucial wicket 

‘There was a huge sense of frustration [in the crowd] but I can’t understand why? It’s complete naivety around Bairstow’s dismissal.

‘The ball is not dead at any stage when Bairstow leaves his crease. He was obviously in his own little bubble – and you cannot do that.

‘It’s actually really smart from Carey, recognising what is going on – Bairstow living in his own little world – and seeing an opportunity to take a wicket.’

Mike Atherton agreed, stating: ‘England have nothing to complain about, it was a dozy bit of cricket from Jonny Bairstow.’

And Aussie cult hero Merv Hughes didn’t mince his words, offering this gem: ‘Learn the rules and there wouldn’t be a problem!’