Vaughan appalled by the naivety of Ashes tourists
MICHAEL VAUGHAN is aghast at the “stupidity” of England’s late-night drinkers and believes senior players have serious questions to answer about the Ashes tourists’ troubles.
Vaughan insists too that the next one who causes off-the-field controversy, in a series in which England trail 2-0 and are in danger of losing in the next week, should be sent home.
The former Ashes-winning captain was speaking after Ben Duckett was handed a maximum fine, banned from playing for the remainder of England Lions’ trip and issued with a final written warning for pouring beer over all-time national leading wickettaker James Anderson.
Vaughan is incredulous that, on their first night back in Perth and after the Ashes squad’s curfew was lifted, 10 of them joined Lions colleagues in the bar that was the scene of Jonny Bairstow’s ‘headbutt’ greeting for Australia opener Cameron Bancroft.
The presence of Anderson and other experienced players also perplexes him.
“To think you’ve gone back to the same bar where the Bairstow incident happened, the first night you’re back in town, it’s just stupid,” said Ashes pundit Vaughan.
“You can’t fathom the mentality of a group of people who suddenly say, ‘Right, we’re going out, we’ve found a venue, and you know what, we’re going back to the Avenue bar’.”
He is astounded at the naivety of England’s recreational behaviour.
“You have one or two bad eggs and, let’s be honest, they act like students when they go out, big trays of shots,” he said.
“Pour a drink over anyone’s head if you want, but you’re playing for England on Saturday. Where is [Duckett’s] mentality at to want to be out that late?
“We don’t think he’s a legend – he’s just an ordinary, decent player – where is his mind-set to think that’s right?”
Vaughan queries the actions of much more experienced players too.
“I would question the senior boys who were in that bar that night,” he added.
“They are the role models of the team, the Lions, that all those young players should be looking up to.”