Ashes 2021/22: England launches investigation into leaked footage of early morning Ashes kick on

The England Cricket Board has launched an investigation into the post-Ashes party with a high-ranking coach allegedly behind the video. WATCH THE VIDEO

England Cricket Board has launched an investigation into how footage of a police incident involving Ashes players, including Australians, allegedly filmed by assistant coach Graham Thorpe leaked onto the internet.

Police were called to shut down an end of Ashes celebratory drink between a few Australia and England players at the team hotel after noise complaints about music from their balcony drinks early on Monday morning.

A noise complaint was made by fellow guests of the team hotel and four police officers attended the scene on Monday morning where Nathan Lyon, Travis Head, Alex Carey, Jimmy Anderson and England captain Joe Root were enjoying a drink.

Watch every game of the KFC Big Bash League Live & On-Demand on Kayo or catch up for FREE with minis on Kayo Freebies. Join Kayo Now >

A screenshot of the video that shows Australian and England stars being kicked out by police.

Cricket Australia officials have not commented on the matter, but the ECB has launched an internal investigation with suggestions in the UK media it was their own assistant coach who filmed the incident doing the rounds on social media on Tuesday.

Thorpe, who stood in as coach for the SCG Test when Chris Silverwood was recovering from Covid, is heard talking on the video, naming the players present and saying “this is for the lawyers” as police marshalled the group to leave.

The fact he is not seen on the video has raised the suggestion he filmed the event to protect the players, but it has somehow since leaked online.

WATCH THE EARLY MORNING PARTY GET SHUT DOWN IN THE PLAYER ABOVE

It comes as UK media reported of fat shaming and a drinking culture within the England Ashes camp that led to their disastrous 4-0 series loss.

“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 ECB said in a statement.

“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.

England launch investigation after police called to move on players drinking at 6am on Monday.

"The England party have apologised for any inconvenience caused.

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

— Nick Hoult (@NHoultCricket) January 18, 2022

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

In the video at least four officers attended the rooftop area to ask the cricketers - some still wearing their playing whites from the end of the fifth Test the night before - to leave the area immediately.

The Australian players didn’t get back to the hotel until about 1.30am on Monday morning after wrapping up the Ashes series with a 4-0 trouncing of England at Blundstone Arena on Sunday evening.

The police officer is seen in the video telling the players it is “too loud” and ushered them to leave.

“You have obviously been asked to pack up, so we’ve been asked to come. Time for bed. Thank you,” the officer said.

Tasmania Police confirmed the incident took place shortly after 6am and no further action would be taken after the players calmly complied with the orders.

According to a spokeswoman from Tasmania Police, officers removed the players from a bar at the Crowne Plaza Hotel on Liverpool St after receiving complaints about loud behaviour.

“Tasmania Police attended the Crowne Plaza Hobart on Monday morning after reports were made of intoxicated people in a function area,” the spokeswoman said.

“The guests were spoken to by police just after 6:00am and left the area when asked. No further action will be taken by police,” the spokeswoman said.

The Australian players enjoyed celebratory drinks again the next day in Hobart with vision on player social media feeds showing them interacting with the Barmy Army supporters group as the tourists sang songs in a pub.

A comment has been sought from Crowne Plaza management.

According to the Crowne Plaza’s website, the bar operates between 10.30am and 11pm.

Originally published as Ashes 2021/22: England launches investigation into leaked footage of early morning Ashes kick on