Ephraim James McIntyre stripped and ran onto the field during the New Zealand v Sri Lanka game at Hagley Oval on February 14. Photo / Brett Phibbs
Ephraim James McIntyre stripped and ran onto the field during the New Zealand v Sri Lanka game at Hagley Oval on February 14. Photo / Brett Phibbs
One punter at the Cricket World Cup final will miss the entire game after running on to the field at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before the match began today.
The pitch invader took to the field just before the national anthems were played at the game and made it out halfway across the area before being tackled to the ground by security.
The effort was greeted with baffled derision on Twitter, at the thought of missing the game for seconds of glory:
This isn't the first pitch invader to blight the tournament.
A serial streaker who ran naked across the pitch during last month's opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in Christchurch was fined $1500 for his "idiotic and exhibitionist" stunt.
Ephraim James McIntyre, 26, stripped down to his socks and ran onto the field during the New Zealand v Sri Lanka game at Hagley Oval on February 14.
The tattooed Christchurch drainlayer fended a security guard before he was tackled and dragged from the ground wearing only a pair of socks.
The 18,000-strong crowd cheered as McIntyre was apprehended by police and escorted from the ground.
At Christchurch District Court earlier this month, he admitted a charge of pitch invasion under the Major Events Management Act - an offence that carries a maximum penalty of a fine of up to $5000 or imprisonment for up to three months.
Police prosecutor Sergeant Grant Neal said at McIntyre's court appearance that he was caught about 100m onto the field in front of a capacity crowd and a global TV audience.
When he was caught, he told officers that he got a "buzz" when getting cheered on by the crowd.
It's not the first time that McIntyre has invaded a pitch.
In 2011, he ran onto the field during a rugby league match between the New Zealand Warriors and the Newcastle Knights at Greymouth - a game designed to raise money for victims of the Pike River mining disaster.
Defence counsel Miranda Rout told the court this month there was nothing original about McIntyre's exhibitionist behaviour, recalling an incident outside her law school some 16 years ago when six male students streaked past "as fast as they could" to avoid being caught.
Ephraim James McIntyre stripped and ran onto the field during the New Zealand v Sri Lanka game at Hagley Oval on February 14. Photo / Brett Phibbs
She highlighted the recent spate of streaking which follows a strong tradition of the showmanship.
A fine was appropriate she said, as McIntyre only interrupted the event for around eight seconds.
It was "idiotic and exhibitionist behaviour" that was inspired by the "intoxication of a rapturous crowd".
"He at least made an effort to cover his genitals," Mrs Rout said.
Mrs Rout said McIntyre's exploits were "acquiring legend status" in some quarters.
Anything more than a fine could add to his "legend status" in the media, she claimed.
At the court appearance this month, Judge Gary MacAskill said he would not spend much time on sentencing, because despite the media and public attention, it was a "rather routine" offence.
He fined McIntyre $1500 and ordered him to pay court costs.
Joseph Brook, 23, allegedly streaked at the same match. He has pleaded not guilty and will reappear on April 24.
Another pitch invader, Student Fergus Watts, 21, admitted streaking naked at the England v Scotland game at Hagley Oval on February 23.
