The England and Wales Cricket Board have launched an investigation into footage that showed Joe Root and Jimmy Anderson being asked to leave a hotel in the early hours of Monday morning after a drinking session.
England assistant coach Graham Thorpe is on the hot seat after it was reported that he filmed the post-Ashes pub incident and sent it to others.
The Telegraph UK said that Thorpe had passed the footage onto friends before it was circulated widely and went viral.
READ MORE: Manly star Martin Taupau addresses ‘garbage’ rumours
READ MORE: Khawaja thanks Cummins, teammates for Ashes gesture
READ MORE: Novak Djokovic faces major ‘consequences’ in GOAT race
Australia and England both stayed at the Crowne Plaza Hobart and following Australia’s win, drank together.
Australia’s Alex Carey, Nathan Lyon, and Travis Head, and England’s captain Joe Root and veteran quick James Anderson were seen in the video, as police told them to move on following a noise complaint.
https://twitter.com/DennisCricket_/status/1483279744321789959
“Tasmania police attended the Crowne Plaza Hobart on Monday morning after reports were made of intoxicated people in a function area,” a statement from Tasmania Police read.
“The guests were spoken to, just after 6am, and left the area when asked. No further action will be taken.”
The ECB are furious that the incident was filmed and shared, rather than the drinking itself – with no COVID-19 protocols breached.
“During the early hours of Monday morning, members of the England and Australia men’s teams shared a drink in the team areas of the hotel in Hobart,” the ECB’s statement read.
“The hotel management received a noise complaint by a hotel guest, and as is commonplace in Australia, the local police attended the scene. When asked to leave by hotel management and the Tasmanian police, the players and management in question left and returned to their respective hotel rooms. The England party have apologised for any inconvenience caused.
“The ECB will investigate further. Until such times, we will make no further comment.”
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!