Lord’s [Yorkspotter]

TEST match cricket was interrupted by Just Stop Oil as Lord’s became the latest scene of the group’s debate-starting tactics.

Protesters said the sport would face much worse disruption by climate change as they explained why they raced onto the pitch on Wednesday spraying their trademark orange powder paint.

England and Australia were meeting for their second match in the Ashes series at the cricket ground in St John’s Wood when three demonstrators entered the field of play.

JSO say that while the redeveloped Lord’s is entirely powered by renewable energy, the Marylebone Cricket Club – MCC’s – principal partner is JP Morgan, which they accuse of contributing $317billion in fossil fuel financing.

The group has already disrupted the World Snooker Championships and an England rugby match after vowing to use sport to help get their warnings about the climate crisis across. Extra caution is expected at the Wimbledon tennis championships starting next week.

At Lord’s the demonstration was quickly halted with England’s Jonny Bairstow helping security to remove them from the field.

Judit Murray, 69, one of the protesters said: “I have to take action for my seven beautiful grandchildren. I can’t bear to imagine the suffering that they will have to endure because of this government continuing to license new oil, coal and gas, against all better judgment and expert advice.”

Environmental scientist and protester, known as Solomon, said later in a video on the group’s social media that he was taking action with the group “to put pressure on the UK government to stop all new licensing for fossil fuels”.

He added: “We’re looking at a future where crops will burn in the fields and there will be droughts and heatwaves all summer long. Storms will then come in the winter and flood towns and cities.

“We won’t have any food and we won’t have anywhere to live. Billions of people will be forced to migrate and billions will die.

“There will be war worldwide, the likes of which we’ve never seen.”

Daniel Knorr, 21, the protester who was carried off by Mr Bairstow, said in a video: “I just feel like I don’t have a choice… this is something that has to happen, the alternative, I can’t bear thinking of it.”

He added: “They call it climate change, the climate crisis… it’s just too terrible. I can’t bear to think of it.”

A JSO spokesperson said: “How can we enjoy England vs Australia when much of the cricketing world is becoming unfit for humans to live in?

“We can no longer afford to distract ourselves when the sports we play, the food we eat, and the culture we cherish is at risk.”

They added: “It’s time for cricket lovers and all those who understand the severity of this situation, to get onto the streets and demand action from this illegitimate, criminal, government.

“When our children ask us ‘what did we do’ to avert this crisis, we better have a good answer.”

According to the group, cricket will be the hardest hit of all major pitch sports because of the extreme conditions caused by the climate crisis. They say that much of the cricketing world is at risk, with Asia experiencing a historic heatwave during which some cities have been citing temperatures over 44 degrees celsius.

This disruption is part of JSO’s wider campaign to convince the UK government to immediately halt new oil, gas, and coal projects in the UK.

The Metropolitan Police Service said three arrests had been made and the protesters had been charged with aggravated trespass.

They are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on July 31.

MPS Superintendent Gerry Parker said: “We will not tolerate criminal or anti-social behaviour and there are serious consequences for people who engage in criminal acts.”

The MCC’s chief executive Guy Lavender has said: “MCC condemn in the strongest possible terms today’s pitch incursion and the behaviour of the protesters involved.

“Their actions not only endanger themselves and those who work at the ground, but they have consistently shown complete disregard for the people who pay to attend events, not just here at Lord’s but around the country at other sporting venues.”

Yesterday (Thursday) at 8am, JSO protesters embarked on a march in the West End led by students who they say are most at risk from the effect of climate breakdown and are demanding action to safeguard their future.