INVADER RAISES SECURITY FEARS

A PITCH invader has raised question marks over security at Lord’s.

The intruder took to the field wearing whites and an Indian Test shirt immediately after the postlunch session and found his way to the wicket before the stewards were alerted.

He was then escorted from the field.

The man (above) – wearing Jarvo 69 on his back - immediately became a social-media hit.

But it will be hugely concerning that he managed to get so close to India’s players and the batting pair of England captain Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow, particularly when bio-security is such an important focus.

He then started ordering field changes as India’s baffled players looked on, before attempting to convince security he was a member of the touring side by pointing at the badge on his shirt. In another incident, it appeared that champagne corks were thrown at India’s first Test centurion KL Rahul during the England innings.

India captain Virat Kohli was clearly irritated by the incident, which also occurred while Bairstow and Root were at the crease.

Some Indian players saw the funny side of the spectator invasion.

The big screen at Lord’s carries the message that supporters shouldn’t approach players or officials – but despite stewards posted around the ground, they were powerless to stop that happening here.

This is not the first time a pitch invader has held up play at a big game at Lord’s in recent years.

A woman attempted to get onto the turf as England took on New Zealand in the 2019 World Cup Final.

It was later found to be a stunt in support of an adult website run by Russian YouTube star Vitaly Zdorovetskiy.