England cricketers held up by Just Stop Oil on way to Lord's for Ireland Test

01 June 2023 , 08:20

1054     0

England cricketers held up by Just Stop Oil on way to Lord's for Ireland Test

England have been delayed by Just Stop Oil protesters while travelling to Lord's for the first Test of the summer against Ireland.

England are set to play their first Test match in over three months when they take on Ireland in a four-day match at the home of cricket today, ahead of what is set to be a fascinating Ashes contest against rivals Australia.

However, protesters from environmental activist group Just Stop Oil have held up England's team bus, with wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow posting a picture on his Instagram story of three activists standing in front of the vehicle. He captioned the picture: "If we're abit late it's not our fault..."

It did not have much of an effect on England, though, with the activists only delaying their arrival at Lord's by around five minutes. The Test match marks Bairstow's first England appearance since August after he broke his leg in a freak accident while playing golf and will also see Worcestershire seamer Josh Tongue make his international debut.

Tongue was picked ahead of Chris Woakes after being drafted into the squad as injury cover for James Anderson and Ollie Robinson, who have both been rested against Ireland as a precaution. The 25-year-old impressed Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum in his time with the squad and said his selection is a "dream come true".

Ballance set to make Test return for Zimbabwe after Yorkshire racism scandal

Speaking ahead of the game, Tongue said: "It's an amazing feeling. Speechless really, even from when I got the first call up to be in the squad. Now being in the actual team, it's just a dream come true really.

Just Stop Oil protesters pictured in front of the England team bus (Instagram/@jbairstow21)

"I bowled at some of the lads on Monday. I felt like I bowled nicely and obviously I was going in with no expectations to be playing at all and just bowling at high class players at the nets was just good for me. I must have bowled fairly well to get selected.

"I've never played at Lord's before for Worcester so it's my first time being here and experiencing the ground as a player. I've been as a fan in the crowd but never played. It's going to be a very emotional day for my dad. He's that sort of character.

"He even coached me back in the day when I was playing all my age group stuff. I'm the sort of person to stay in the present. I try not to think too much ahead of myself, and whatever game I play in I just try and perform and do as much as I can for the team. So I'm not really thinking about the Ashes as such at the minute. I’m trying to focus on this game first."

Matthew Cooper