BEN DUCKETT DROPPED FROM WARMUP AFTER BAR INCIDENT

PERTH: Ashes tour has been plunged into a fresh crisis with batsman Ben Duckett stood down from a tour game on Saturday and suspended following a new incident in a Perth bar.

Duckett, who was selected to open the batting in England’s two-day tour match against a Cricket Australia XI in Perth, was a late omission from the team.

Team coach Trevor Bayliss confirmed that Duckett was involved in an incident late Thursday where he poured a drink over a senior player, identified in reports as James Anderson, following a heated row.

“I think that was the issue,” Bayliss told reporters.

“It was boys being boys, I suppose, but totally unacceptable. It’s trivial, but in the current climate not acceptable.

“Everyone has been warned about how even small things can be blown out of all proportion.

“I’m disappointed. With what we have had to go through already with these problems, it is not acceptable.”

Bayliss said the Northants batsman was suspended by team management while a disciplinary investigation, which will be led by Lions coach Andy Flower, takes place.

JENNINGS HITS 80 AS MOEEN FALLS CHEAPLY

PERTH: Opener Keaton Jennings top scored but Test all-rounder Moeen Ali missed out on runs in England’s two-day Ashes tour game against a Cricket Australia XI in Perth on Saturday.

Jennings hit 80 and fast bowler Tom Curran an unbeaten 77, in the tourists’ 314 /9 declared on the opening day.

But Moeen missed out on a opportunity to bat himself into form ahead of third Ashes Test in Perth, scoring 24 before he was caught behind in the second over after lunch.

Playing as captain, Moeen is the only member of the England XI to have played in the Ashes and won’t bowl in the tour match as he recovers from a split finger he suffered in the first Test at the Gabba. At the close, the CA XI were 62/1 in reply.