Alex Carey’s controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow on July 2, 2023 divided opinions around the world over the months that followed. Before that, however, there was a spontaneous reaction.

As the Australians were walking back to the dressing room at lunch on the final day, they passed through the Lord’s Long Room, where some MCC members verbally abused them.

Usman Khawaja and David Warner had an exchange of words with one member, and had to be moved away by the security personnel. Cricket Australia released a subsequent statement, requesting MCC to investigate the incident.

The MCC “unreservedly apologized” to the Australian team, and suspended three members pending an investigation.

On October 5, the MCC sent a written statement to its members, updating them about the “disciplinary process convened in response to the incident”.

“The actions of the three individuals in the Pavilion on the day in question fell well below the behaviour expected from our Members. The penalties set out above are the consequences of breaching the Club’s Code of Conduct,” ran the update.

While the MCC kept the details of the disciplinary process “confidential” and did not publish the names of the members, they found all three members guilty of “abusive, offensive or inappropriate behaviour or language”.

They expelled one of the three members, and suspended the others – one for four and a half years, the other for 30 months.

Australia won the Lord’s Test match by 43 runs. England levelled the series 2-2, but Australia retained the Ashes.