Just not cricket! England hit by headbutt claim

YOU’D think England’s cricketers had enough on their plate with the loss of star player Ben Stokes and the first Ashes Test slipping from their hands.

But the team was rocked by claims yesterday that wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow had headbutted Australia’s Cameron Bancroft.

The alleged incident is said to have taken place during a night out in Perth at the start of the current tour four weeks ago.

England – which lost Stokes after an alleged punch-up outside a bar – insisted claims about Bairstow were exaggerated.

Sidelining another player would be a blow as the team struggles in Brisbane.

Bairstow is understood to have become involved in banter with Bancroft when the team joined local Western Australia players at the end of a drawn two- day practice match before the series began.

Witnesses confirmed there was contact between the two players at The Avenue Bar, but no aggression.

A team insider said: ‘Jonny bought him a drink. When he handed it to him their heads touched and they carried on drinking together. It’s all hype.’ Another source said: ‘Jonny is a rugby man, and part of their culture is to bump heads if someone buys them a drink. Very odd, but nothing malicious. They carried on drinking with each other.’

A cricketer playing in Australia, but not with the England team, added: ‘I was there. There was no aggression. The suggestion of a headbutt is complete b*******.’

After Stokes was suspended over his arrest on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm in September, England’s players agreed a code of conduct.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) began an investigation yesterday, and spoke to Bairstow. It said it would finish the inquiry after the first Test, but added: ‘There has been no report of any incident from the venue, security or police and there was no injury reported.’

Australia opener Bancroft was said to have not wanted the Perth incident to come to light, while Bairstow is thought to have apologised for any misunderstanding.

But Bairstow has since been sledged by Australian players, with the comment ‘We know what you did to our mate in Perth’ picked up on a stump microphone.