View
comments
Playing Ashes cricket allows great rivalries but also great friendships to form and so it was disappointing that the post-series drinks shared by Joe Root, Jimmy Anderson and some Australian players was scrutinised in the public domain this week.
Arguably it would not have been given such projection but for the emergence of video footage but what should be remembered is that these guys had given their all in Ashes battle over seven weeks of living in restricted bubbles, they were being respectful to their opponents and observed all the Covid protocols. This was a private interaction between fellow pro-sportsmen.
Some of the focus was on the fact that they were out until 6am but you must remember the game didn't finish until 10.30 at night and the teams were still in the dressing rooms until the early hours before heading back to their hotel.
Footage captured the moment Australia and England's cricket stars were kicked out of a rooftop bar by police (pic left: Nathan Lyon, pic right: Joe Root)
I was pleased that the players were able to play the game hard and fair on the field but relax and enjoy each other's company off it.
Speaking to Travis Head and Alex Carey, two players I coach at South Australia, they said the opportunity to sit and talk cricket with Root and Anderson, legends not only of English cricket but the world game, was invaluable.
It was not as if the five players involved were sozzled, they were just enjoying each other's company, sharing cricket stories and discussing their journeys
