With England five down, needing a further 178 runs to win, Bairstow ducked underneath a short ball from Cameron Green, scratched the crease with his boot and walked down the pitch towards his partner Ben Stokes at the non-striker’s end.

Bairstow glared at the Australian huddle as he walked off and boos rang out around Lord’s. The crowd – who have been largely subdued throughout the first four days of this Test – then chanted repeatedly: “Same old Aussies, always cheating.”

Per the Laws of the game, the ball was not dead. According to Law 20.1.2: “The ball shall be considered to be dead when it is clear to the bowler’s end umpire that the fielding side and both batters at the wicket have ceased to regard it as in play.” Clearly, Australia still regarded that the ball was in play.

“There was a huge sense of frustration but I can’t understand why. it’s complete naivety around what has happened with Jonny Bairstow’s dismissal. [It was] 100% out. I was on comms with Mark Taylor and he called it exactly right. In the balls leading up to his dismissal, this is just complete naivety.

“The ball is not dead at any stage and Jonny Bairstow leaves his crease. He’s obviously in his own little bubble, they are bowling short, bowling full, accurate bowling. Testing his defence. But you cannot do this, and it’s actually really smart from Alex Carey recognising what is going on. Bairstow’s in his own little world, and it’s an opportunity to take a wicket”

Stokes too switched gears, although that might have been because he was suddenly batting with the tail. He was 62 off 126 balls when Bairstow had to walk back, but soon charged to a hundred off 142 balls, belting the wicket-taker Green for three back-to-back sixes as Lord’s went wild.

The needle continued even when play stopped for lunch. Broad clapped sarcastically towards Cummins and exchanged words with both Marnus Labuschagne and David Warner. Usman Khawaja was also pictured speaking to an MCC member in the Long Room as he walked back towards the dressing rooms.

Both Cricket Australia and MCC released statements in response to events in the Long Room. A Cricket Australia spokesperson said: “Australian management has requested the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) investigate several incidents involving spectators in the members area during lunch on day five of the Lord’s Test.

“It is alleged players and staff from the Australian team were verbally abused, with some being physically contacted, as they made their way to lunch through the members area.”

An MCC spokesperson said: “The Long Room is unique in world cricket and the great privilege of players passing through the Pavilion is very special. After this morning’s play, emotions were running high, and words were unfortunately exchanged with some of the Australian team, by a small number of Members.

“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. It was not necessary to eject anyone from the ground and I am pleased to say that there was no repeat of this as the players resumed the field for this afternoon’s session.”