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Jonny Bairstow carried one of the protesters all the way to the boundary of the field

Security has been heightened around major cricket matches. With the pitch and conditions more important to the outcome in cricket than most sports, the potential for damage and disruption is greater if protesters are able to reach the middle.

England's team bus was briefly held up by protesters before the Test against Ireland at Lord's earlier this month.

At the World Test Championship final at The Oval, the International Cricket Council took the unusual step of preparing a reserve pitch in case the original one was damaged.

Wednesday's match was only one over old when the protesters entered the field from the Lord's Grandstand.

Initially confronted by the players, they were also tackled by security staff from the venue and the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Bairstow was cheered by the crowd as he carried one protester from the middle to the boundary edge. The other, who got closer to the pitch, was blocked by Stokes and Australia batter David Warner. Bairstow then left the field to apparently change his shirt and wicketkeeping gloves as the orange powder on the square and outfield had found its way onto his kit. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "The Prime Minister is pleased play was able to resume quickly and thanks security staff, the swift hands of Jonny Bairstow and other England players who stepped in." 1010 471

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