Moeen: England players must improve off-field behaviour

Perth, December 10 

England’s cricketers must take responsibility for their actions and improve their off-field behaviour or risk turning a younger generation of players away from the game, all-rounder Moeen Ali said here today.

England’s Ashes tour was plunged into another crisis on Saturday after batsman Ben Duckett was suspended for pouring a drink on a senior England player reported to be paceman James Anderson after an argument in a Perth bar late on Thursday.

“As professionals - with the young kids watching and hearing all the news, it’s very important we are on our best behaviour,” said Moeen.

“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.” 

The behaviour of England players has come under scrutiny after Ben Stokes was left out of the tour after he and team mate Alex Hales were arrested following an incident outside a Bristol nightclub in September. 

England coach Trevor Bayliss described Duckett’s actions as “not acceptable”  and expressed his frustration at having to constantly explain the off-field behaviour of his players to media. — Reuters

England’s booze issues no joke 

Australia coach Darren Lehmann says England’s latest alcohol-fuelled indiscretion is no laughing matter and his team are not relishing the tourists’ misfortunes. “I’ve been through all that, so no, I don’t have a chuckle at that,” said Lehmann. “You have those situations at various stages throughout your career. It’s not funny,” he added. AFP