Australian cricket WAGs banned from World Cup and Ashes tour

The wives and girlfriends of Australia's’s cricket team are banned from staying with the players for the first three World Cup matches in a bid to avoid “distractions”. VIDEO: BUZZ’s VIEW

• Calls for WAGs to be banned from Ashes Test
• Candice: It’s my fault and it’s killing me

Australia’s cricket WAGs are facing lengthy “exclusion” periods to prevent disruptions during the five-month World Cup and Ashes tour which began in the UK last night.

Wives, partners and family members are banned from the team hotels during the opening three World Cup games and three of the five Ashes Test matches following criticism about their impact on the team from former players during the last Ashes campaign in 2015.

Australia has not won the Ashes in England since 2001.

Team manager Gavin Dovey told The Sunday Telegraph the restrictions have been introduced in consultation with senior players and the coaching staff.

“We want to get the balance right with the best outcome for everyone,” Dovey said.

Former Australian cricket captain Michael Clarke with Australian Team Manager Gavin Dovey. Picture: Ryan Pierse

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“There are a lot of challenges but what we’ve tried to work out when we think it’s important for the group to be on their own, knuckle down and focus on the task.

“Then you look at when it’s important to be around your families.

“We can’t go a whole World Cup and Ashes and not have families as a big part of it. That would be ridiculous over such a long period of time.

“We want to get the balance right between what’s in the best interests of the team and the players’ individual circumstances,” he said.

Former wicketkeeper and commentator Ian Healy led calls to ban the WAGs four years ago.

“Some of the most respected cricketers I played with hated that distraction,” Healy said.

“They (families) weren’t allowed on tour until after the series had been won. Your mind needs to be completely focused on it. Cricket is a sport that requires complete concentration.

“Are they together as a team? Do they fragment from here? Do they meet and talk about it tonight? Will they confront it?”

On this campaign WAGs can join the team between the fourth World Cup game and the finals.

Then for the second and third Ashes Tests.

“The first few games of the World Cup we thought as a group it was really important we get off to a good start without absorbing a heap of peripheral things,” Dovey said.

“But families are then welcome right through to the finals.

Fox Cricket commentary team. Ian Healy. Supplied by Foxtel

Candice Warner and Danielle Smith at the 2017 Allan Border Medal. Picture: Brett Costello

Steve Smith and Dave Warner are back playing for Australia. Picture: James Marsh

“We actually think what’s the point of winning a World Cup if you can’t share it with the people that mean the most to you. You want your wife and kids there.”

And then the Ashes. The first, fourth and fifth Tests are WAGs free zones.

“We haven’t won there in nearly 20 years,” Dovey said, “We’ve got to throw the kitchen sink at it.

“So we’ll bunker down before the first Test. Then we’ll have a family period around the second and third Tests.

“The lesson we’ve tried to learn out of 2015 is we want to get off to a really good start. We’re being quite protective around that.”

As part of Cricket Australia player agreements, two family members get free flights to the UK.

They get transport from the team hotel, accommodation and hospitality.

Players will be allowed to leave camp for exceptional circumstances.

WAGS Bonnie Paine, Becky Boston and Cat McAteer. Picture: Instagram

“We will absolutely do anything we need to accommodate their needs,” Dovey said.

Dave Warner’s wife Candice is having their third child in London in early July.

This is the Warner family’s first tour since the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa last year.

The same for Steve Smith’s wife, Danielle. They were married in Bowral in October during his ban.

Not all WAGs will be arriving in England next week. Test captain Tim Paine’s wife Bonnie arrives for the Ashes in mid-August.

Emma McCarthy, the partner of bowling veteran Nathan Lyon, will stay for the World Cup and Ashes.

She has well accepted by the WAGS despite Lyon’s messy separation from the popular Mel Waring, the mother of his two daughters.