Ashes curfew imposed as Andrew Strauss says England players not ‘thugs’ and warns them about future behaviour

The move follows Jonny Bairstow’s headbutt of Cameron Bancroft in a Perth bar late last month, which came to light over the weekend

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England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow comes face-to-face with Australia’s Cameron Bancroft who he is alleged to have headbutted a few weeks ago at a bar in Perth. Photo: Reuters

Published: 10:12am, 28 Nov 2017Updated: 10:11pm, 28 Nov 2017

England cricket chief Andrew Strauss says his players are not “thugs” and there is no drinking culture in the team, as he slapped a midnight curfew on the Ashes tour, reports said on Tuesday.

The move followed Jonny Bairstow’s headbutt of Cameron Bancroft in a Perth bar late last month, which only came to light over the weekend and has dominated headlines.

There is sensitivity within the England camp about off-field behaviour after the controversy surrounding suspended star all-rounder Ben Stokes, who is facing a police inquiry into a fight outside a Bristol nightclub in September.

England coach Trevor Bayliss was furious with Bairstow’s ‘dumb’ behaviour. Photo: AFP

Head coach Trevor Bayliss was furious at Bairstow, calling his behaviour “dumb” on Monday, accusing him of handing Australia “ammunition”.

Director of cricket Strauss said Bairstow “bumped” heads with Bancroft in what he described as an innocent greeting “that he does with his mates”.

But in a meeting with the players at the team hotel in Brisbane on Monday after they lost the first test by 10 wickets, he laid down the law, cricket.com.au and Britain’s Daily Telegraph said.

Ashes curfew imposed as Andrew Strauss says England players not ‘thugs’ and warns them about future behaviour

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}The move follows Jonny Bairstow’s headbutt of Cameron Bancroft in a Perth bar late last month, which came to light over the weekend

The move follows Jonny Bairstow’s headbutt of Cameron Bancroft in a Perth bar late last month, which came to light over the weekend