AUSTRALIA v ENGLAND, THE THIRD TEST MO’S WARNINGPERTH, Cricket’s booze culture must change or we risk turning kids off the game STAND-IN SKIPPER CALLS FOR FOCUS ON THE ASHES AS OFF-FIELD ANTIC S S P IN O U T O F CONTROL

MOEEN ALI warns that English cricket’s culture “needs to change” – or risk turning off the very kids it wants to attract to the game.

The stand-in England skipper fronted up and spoke up for players on a tour desperately trying to win Test matches and focus on their cricket but being pulled at the seams by off-field shenanigans.

As always there was a calm authority about Moeen, suggesting his stint as captain might be rekindled at a later date but also highlighting a few simple truths.

The spotlight on English cricket’s behaviour has become more powerful since the latenight Bristol incident involving Ben Stokes, but the players have been slow to react.

“The cricket is the most important thing,” said Moeen after a draw with a Cricket Australia XI. “The off-field behaviour needs to improve and we all know that and hopefully that will happen.

“As a cricketer from a young age there’s always been these sorts of things. But the culture needs to change now with so much media and coverage of cricket.

“We’re all grown men and should know how to behave, through county cricket all the way up to international cricket, the individual needs to be responsible for his behaviour.

“It’s not always easy, the guys are on tour for a long time and feel like they want to go out, but we have to behave ourselves.

“With young kids watching and hearing the news, we have to be on our best behaviour and I think it’s important that we inspire the younger generation to take up the game, it could turn them away and that’s not what we want.”

Is the message getting through? “Slowly but surely,” he added. This was the voice of reason that his team-mates should be heeding. Not because he happens to be teetotal and does not frequent bars and pubs, but because he gets it. Moeen gets the incredible, privileged position England cricketers are in. They have the ability to inspire and influence, as well as being well-rewarded and having fun while doing it. They are not there to raise people’s children for them, but they do have a responsibility beyond just themselves and if that means going to a bar without causing a scene then so be it. Moeen admitted feeling sorry for Trevor Bayliss and Andrew Strauss for having to come forward repeatedly to explain what the players had been up to, adding with a smile: “Anyone who has to stand here and talk about incidents, you feel for them... I feel for myself right now.”