Bairstow under investigation by ECB over alleged headbutt on Bancroft
● Wicketkeeper to be probed after reports of incident in Perth bar
The England and Wales Cricket Board has spoken to Jonny Bairstow about allegations of a late-night altercation with Australia opener Cameron Bancroft.
Reports in Australia have claimed the England wicketkeeper headbutted Bancroft in a bar in Perth four weeks ago.
A brief ECB statement confirmed yesterday that management staff have asked Bairstow, pictured, about the alleged incident and will revisit the matter once the first Test is concluded.
The statement was issued several hours after the end of the fourth day in Brisbane, where Bancroft made his debut and England are almost certainly about to go 1-0 down in the high-profile series.
It read: “At close of play in Brisbane today, we were made aware of allegations of an incident in Perth four weeks ago.
“There has been no report of any incident from the venue, security or police, and there was no injury reported.
“Following an initial conversation with Jonny Bairstow tonight, we understand the context and will follow up with England players and management after the Brisbane Test.”
The matter has arisen at a time of heightened awareness of the off-the-field behaviour of England players, following Ben Stokes’ arrest on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm during a fracas outside a Bristol nightclub in September.
Stokes remains at home, unavailable for England’s tour while he waits to find out if he will be charged by police.
Bairstow was one of three players fined by the ECB last month and accepted formal written warnings for “unprofessional conduct – unrelated to the investigations into Ben Stokes and Alex Hales”.
Meanwhile, Moeen Ali’s only complaint was with himself after his controversial dismissal hastened England to the brink of a heavy defeat in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba.
There were rumblings, after the all-rounder was on the wrong end of the tightest of third-umpire line calls, that the apparently inconsistent width of the whitewash on the popping crease had contributed to his stumping.
But as Moeen reflected on England’s “regrets” in a match they appear sure to lose on the final morning today, he made clear it was batsman error that most troubled him – rather than any by the officials or groundstaff. Moeen was sixth out, initiating a collapse of England’s last five wickets for only 40 runs, as they mustered 195 all out in their second innings – despite 51 from captain Joe Root – and therefore set Australia only 170 to go 1-0 up.
At stumps on day four, David Warner (60no) and Bancroft (51no) steered the hosts to 114 for none.
Asked if he thought he was unfortunate to be dismissed by his fellow off-spinner Nathan Lyon, Moeen said: “If I was bowling I’d want it out.
“It depends what angle you look from… but I have to respect the umpire’s call and move on.
“I felt I was all right, but the replay looked tight.”
He was annoyed with himself, though, because he and Bairstow had put on 42 together and were beginning to gather momentum.
“I was more disappointed with the time I got out, with me and Jonny building a good partnership,” he said. “I thought they were already under a little bit of pressure.
“Now, it looks easy for them – but anything over [a lead of] 180 or 190 was dangerous.
“If we’d carried on going, it could have been 220 or even further than that.”