Watch: A spectator breached the security cordon at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, making his way to the middle to interact with Virat Kohli during day two of the Boxing Day Test between Australia and India.
The opening day of the Boxing Day Test was a new attendance record for a day of Test cricket against India in Australia, with Cricket Australia pushing out a press release, putting the number at 87,242.
However, just hours later, they would have been left red-faced after a fan managed to breach the security cordon and make his way into the playing arena. With no one immediately pursuing him, he managed to find enough time to approach Virat Kohli, putting his arm around the former India captain and walking around before security personnel finally caught up with him.
Kohli was in the eye of the storm yesterday, with his mid-pitch shoulder barge of Australian debutant Sam Konstas earning his considerable flak. He was fined 20 per cent of his match fees and handed a demerit point by the match referee at the end of day one, with some – including former Australia captain Ricky Ponting – suggesting that the punishment wasn't harsh enough.
The invader had a Ukraine flag printed on his t-shirt, with the word "free" written on it. On X, Getty Images photographer Robert Cianflone wondered if it was the same individual who made his way to approach Virat Kohli during the 2023 ODI World Cup final between India and Australia. At that time, he was identified as Wayne Johnson, an Australian of Chinese-Filipino origin.
