SKIP TO MAIN CONTENT

England players must behave better: Moeen

Moeen Ali, who doesn't drink alcohol, says he feels for England coach Trevor Bayliss and it's time for the nation's cricketers to behave better.

cricket
Moeen Ali has called on teammates to be more responsible after another incident involving alcohol. (AAP)

3 min read

Published

Source: AAP


Skip to article content

Moeen Ali wants England teammates to set a better example for young cricket fans, saying it is up to individuals to improve their behaviour.

England are reeling from yet another alcohol-fuelled incident that has embarrassed their Ashes squad and prompted coach Trevor Bayliss to consider ending the careers of some misbehaving Test players.

Ben Duckett is expected to learn the outcome of an England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) discipline hearing overnight.

Duckett, who is part of the England A team touring Australia, was stood down from this weekend's tour game after pouring a drink on the head of Test spearhead Jimmy Anderson in the early hours of Friday morning.

The incident unfolded at the same bar where Jonny Bairstow headbutted Cameron Bancroft during the squad's first night on tour.

News that makes sense

Your trusted source for staying up-to-date with the world around you. Get free daily news updates and analysis, straight to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Moeen, who doesn't drink, struggled to hide his disappointment on Sunday.

"As professionals - with the young kids watching and hearing all the news - it's very important we are on our best behaviour," Moeen told reporters.

"It's important we inspire the younger generation to take up the game.

"These kind of things possibly can turn them away and that's not what we want.

"A lot of the families are here now, it's important we focus on the game and personally I won't be going to any pub."

The timing of the saga is far from ideal, with the third Ashes Test starting on Thursday. England will relinquish the urn if they lose the WACA clash.

Ben Stokes' brawl outside a Bristol club, which left another man with a fractured eye socket, Bairstow's headbutt and Duckett's misdeed have created a lot of heat on senior ECB figures.

"Trevor Bayliss, Andrew Strauss and all the guys who get most of the flak for it ... you feel for them," Moeen said.

"We're all grown men and we should know how to behave.

"Through county cricket all the way up to international cricket, the individual needs to be responsible,

"Off-field behaviour needs to improve and we all know that."

An incredulous Bayliss is seething about players' response to a temporary relaxing of the squad's midnight curfew. The Australian coach must now consider more drastic action after an incident that former England skipper Kevin Pietersen branded a "f***ing embarrassment".

"We might have to review who is in the team. Blokes can't keep making the same mistake. Some guys have got to pull their heads in," Bayliss said.


Get SBS News straight to your inbox

Sign up now for daily news from Australia and around the world. You can also subscribe to Insight's weekly newsletter for in-depth features and first-person stories.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Stream now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world