ECB launch investigation after police break up early morning booze session

England captain Joe Root and assistant coach Graham Thorpe are told to go to bed after causing a disturbance at 6am in Hobart

The England and Wales cricket board have launched an investigation after police were called to their team hotel in Hobart to break up an early morning drinking session.

In a video that has emerged from the Sydney Morning Herald, both England and Australian players were filmed being asked to go to bed around 6am the morning after their defeat the night before.

Pictured in the video footage that has emerged was England captain Joe Root, fast bowler Jimmy Anderson as well as Australian players Nathan Lyon, Travis Head and Alex Carey still in their whites from the game.

The video appears to have been filmed by England assistant Graham Thorpe who can be heard on the audio but not seen.

“We’ve got Nathan Lyon, Root, there’s Carey and Anderson,’ Thorpe said. ‘I’ll just video this for the lawyers. See you in the morning everyone.’

His comments came after a woman from the hotel said: “You’re too loud and have obviously been asked to pack up. We have been asked to come. It’s time for bed.”

In a statement an ECB spokesperson said: “During the early hours of Monday morning, members of the England and Australia men’s teams shared a drink in the team areas of the hotel in Hobart.

“The hotel management received a noise complaint by a hotel guest, and as is commonplace in Australia, the local police attended the scene.

“When asked to leave by hotel management and the Tasmanian police, the players and management in question left and returned to their respective hotel rooms. The England party have apologised for any inconvenience caused.

“The ECB will investigate further. Until such times, we will make no further comment.”

Players having a late drink together at the end of a long and arduous Ashes tour is not an uncommon occurrence.

But there is concern as to why the end of the gathering that involved police, ended up being filmed and then appearing on social media less than 48 hours later.

The episode also points to wider concern about the drinking culture that persists within the English game and within the England dressing room.

And with three of the most senior figures in the England camp being involved in an alcohol related incident that required police attention, some will wonder whether this suggests a wider malaise on a hugely unsuccessful tour.

The jobs of both managing director of men’s cricket Ashley Giles and head coach Chris Silverwood are under huge threat following this tour, and the relaxed approach to the consumption of booze on the trip will feature heavily in the review of the arrangements.

ECB chief executive Tom Harrison is already back in the UK after watching all five Ashes Tests Down Under and will demand an explanation after yet further embarrassment in Australia even once the series was over.