Just gets worse for England at The Ashes A POUR SHOW
CRICKET First Stokes, then Bairstow... now young Lion Ben suspended for tipping pint over Anderson
FUMING Trevor Bayliss has threatened to kick out misbehaving England stars as the tour Down Under hit a new low.
This time it was Ben Duckett who has thrown the tourists into further disarray by pouring a drink over James Anderson’s head during a late-night visit to a Perth bar.
Batsman Duckett is out here with the Lions and was due to play in the current England warm-up match before being pulled of the fixture. Head coach Bayliss has been left fed up and frustrated at the incident which he branded “unacceptable”.
And he warned the players they face the end of their international careers if they continue to step out of line.
Trivial
It is believed to be the same bar in which Jonny Bairstow bumped heads with Cameron Bancroft, illustrating an alarming failure of players to learn from their mistakes. Star bowler Anderson is understood to be neither under investigation nor upset by the actions, although he did leave the bar straight afterwards. However, the incident has been viewed in a dim light by the England management. There have been repeated warnings for players in the wake of the Ben Stokes episode in Bristol, which is still awaiting resolution, but none appear to have been heeded and Bayliss has had his fill. “To be quite honest it is a fairly trivial incident but, in the current climate, it’s just not acceptable,” he said. “Everyone has been warned about how small things can be blown out of proportion. And the ECB have also been quite strict to the boys with their message. It’s quite simply unacceptable. “I might review who is in the team,” added Bayliss (left). “You can’t keep making t he same mistakes. “Look, most of the guys are fine. Somewhere along the line, some guys have to pull their heads in. I am disappointed. It doesn’t matter how trivial it is in this environment, with all we have been through it is just not right.
“I’m fed up. Very much so. I’m here to coach the team and I end up spending most of my time in front of cameras trying to explain some behaviour the boys have been warned about.
“I’m not sure exactly what more I can say to them. I’m sure there will be some stern words from above.”
Disarray
Duckett may well be saved the ignominy of being sent home since that would only serve to derail the tour even further, but Bayliss has a handful of players in his crosshairs and their England careers are on very much on the line.
Questions will be asked of the culture within the England set-up, as well as of Bayliss and director of cricket Andrew Strauss, who is back in the UK.
But the simple fact is that the players are adults who should be capable of better behaviour.
Now, only a win in Perth will change the view of a squad in disarray.