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The Marylebone Cricket Club is reconsidering the life ban handed down to one of its members for his part in the ugly scenes that erupted inside Lord's during the 2023 Ashes series.
The review marks a shock twist in a saga that rocked the 'Home of Cricket' and left a lasting stain on one of the sport's most prestigious institutions.
The incident occurred during the second Test between England and Australia, when Jonny Bairstow was controversially stumped by Alex Carey on day five.
As the Australian players left the field for lunch, they were met with a storm of boos and furious shouting inside the Long Room of the Lord's Pavilion.
Players including Usman Khawaja and David Warner were targeted by several MCC members who hurled insults from close range.
Khawaja was seen confronting one of the abusive members and later identifying those involved to officials nearby.
Angry Lord's members are pictured confronting Aussies David Warner and Usman Khawaja during the lunch break of the second Test of the 2023 Ashes series
The members' vitriol stemmed from a controversial run out involving English batsman Jonny Bairstow who had wandered out of his crease
The exchange, captured on television and phone footage, caused worldwide headlines and prompted the MCC to apologise publicly to the Australian team.
Three members were subsequently sanctioned after a disciplinary investigation.
One received a 30-month suspension, another a four-and-a-half-year ban, and one member was expelled for life.
The member who received the lifetime expulsion was later revealed as Henry Somerset, the son of the former Chief Cashier of the Bank of England.
Somerset, a former captain of the elite Rye Golf Club in East Sussex, was found guilty of 'abusive, offensive or inappropriate behaviour or language'.
The punishment was described at the time by former Australian captain Mark Taylor as 'harsh but fair'.
Now multiple sources have confirmed that the MCC is reconsidering the sanction.
The organisation has appointed a new independent disciplinary chair, James Counsell KC, who has the power to reassess previous rulings.
The Marylebone Cricket Club is now considering reversing a life ban that was handed down to one of the Lord's members
Counsell's appointment has opened the door for the life ban to be revisited, despite an appeal already being heard after the 2023 incident.
However, Khawaja, who was one of the players most directly abused that day, has offered forgiveness.
'As long as he's learnt from it,' Khawaja told the Sydney Morning Herald.
'I'm a big believer in second chances, as long as you learn from your mistakes.
'If these guys have learned from their mistakes and they're never going to spray players as they're walking off the field 30 centimetres from their face, that's fine.'
'But there needs to be some sort of remorse and understanding shown and that's for the MCC.
'I'm all for second chances, I'm not a guy that holds grudges, but I do think you need to learn from your mistakes and avoid doing them again.'
Khawaja also revealed that one member told him 'I can say whatever I f**king want' during the heated altercation.
Khawaja is willing to forgive and forget the incident, as long as the members have learned their lesson
'It was really disappointing,' he said in the aftermath of the Test.
'A few of them were throwing out some pretty big allegations and I just called them up on it and they kept going, and I was like, well, this is your membership here.
'So I'm just pointing them out. But it's pretty disrespectful, to be honest. I just expect a lot better from the members.'
The incident fuelled anger both within and outside the MCC, with many calling it a disgrace to the game's traditions.
Then-chief executive Guy Lavender addressed members immediately after the incident and demanded improved behaviour.
'The Long Room is unique in world cricket and the great privilege of players passing through the pavilion is very special,' Lavender said.
'We have unreservedly apologised to the Australian team and will deal with any member who has not maintained the standard we expect through our disciplinary processes.'
At the time, MCC chair Bruce Carnegie-Brown said those captured on camera had 'brought shame' on the club.
Carnegie-Brown stepped down in 2024 and was succeeded by broadcaster and former cricketer Mark Nicholas.
Nicholas, now in charge of overseeing reform and modernisation at Lord's, has reportedly been informed of the disciplinary review.
The new MCC leadership faces pressure to balance tradition with accountability as it deals with fallout from the scandal.
Following the Long Room uproar, the club imposed stricter rules on how close members can stand to players entering or leaving the field.
Security inside the pavilion was tightened, and players were escorted more closely by stewards.
The shared space between members and cricketers is now carefully regulated.
A decision on whether the life ban will stand or be reduced is expected before the end of the year.
