It’s just not cricket – Barrett given out by police at MCG
ALL Black Jordie Barrett has been kicked out of the Melbourne Cricket Ground for bad behaviour during the New Zealand-Australia test, Sunday News understands.
Victoria Police removed two men from the grounds yesterday, during the third day of the Boxing Day cricket test.
The men were evicted from the grounds about 2.50pm [Australian time] for behavioural issues, a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.
‘‘The 22-year-old and 23-year-old, both New Zealand nationals, have been evicted and have incurred a 24-hour ban from the MCG.’’
When asked what the behavioural issues were, the spokeswoman said she didn’t have the ‘‘specifics but it is usually some form of behaviour that has breached the peace, nothing criminal’’.
A Facebook video stream from one cricket test watcher showed Barrett with a group, enjoying the day’s play.
The five-day test has drawn an estimated 16,000 New Zealanders across the Tasman to watch.
On Boxing Day, 80,000 people turned out to watch, and 60,000 attended on Friday. Yesterday, 43,603 fans attended.
Barrett, 22, made headlines in 2018 when police were called after he entered an unlocked Dunedin house in the early hours of the morning.
Barrett had played in the Hurricanes 30-14 loss to the Highlanders on the Friday night and, about 5am, he and a friend entered a flat where they thought another friend was hosting a party.
Finding it empty, they sat down to eat McDonald’s they had bought on the way to the house, but they were confronted by the home’s two occupants.
Barrett told media at the time that he ‘‘was not intoxicated’’ and apologised for the incident.
‘‘I can’t say I’m embarrassed by what’s happened, I’m just disappointed with the events that have unfolded. I don’t believe I’ve caused any harm to anyone.
‘‘I had a couple of drinks in town with mates and basically I can recall everything that happened that night.’’
All Blacks media manager Joe Locke didn’t respond to requests for comment yesterday.