ECB apologise after police called to England team hotel over noise complaint

GEORGE DOBELL IN HOBART: Members of the England and Australia squads were spoken to by police at around 6am on Monday morning after a noise complaint was received, the ECB is investigating

The ECB has issued an apology and launched an investigation after the police were called to the team hotel in Hobart.

Members of the England and Australia squads were spoken to by police at around 6am on Monday morning after a noise complaint from outside the hotel was received.

The group, which had congregated on a terrace at the team hotel, were described as "intoxicated" in a police statement. They dispersed when asked to do so and no further police action will be taken.

Among those seen in mobile phone footage of the incident are Joe Root and James Anderson from the England team and Nathan Lyon, Travis Head and Alex Carey from the Australian team. At least one member of the England coaching team was in attendance, too.

"Tasmania Police attended the Crowne Plaza Hobart on Monday morning after reports were made of intoxicated people in a function area," a statement released to The Age and Herald newspapers said. "The guests were spoken to by police, just after 6am, and left the area when asked. No further action will be taken by police."

The final Test of the Ashes had finished in the city a few hours earlier. While players have routinely come together to share a drink and discuss the series after the final Test in recent years, the combination of Hobart’s options for late-night meeting spots – it is very much not the city which never sleeps, especially on a Sunday night – and Covid protocols which have encouraged mixing only in outdoor areas, may have resulted in the get-together taking place outside. Both teams were staying at the same hotel.

^{Australian players joined English opponents at the post-Ashes get-together on Sunday night and Monday morning (Steve Bell/Getty Images)}

"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," an ECB spokesperson said.

"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.

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

Although the incident in itself does not amount to a great deal, it may prove especially embarrassing to the ECB.

Not only does the footage include a couple of their most senior players, but it comes amid allegations of a drinking culture in the tour party. With members of the management team fighting for their futures, the story does not come at an ideal time.

"To the best of my knowledge there was some noise complaints from outside," Crowne Plaza Hobart general manager Linda Collis told the Herald and The Age. "We’re in the middle of the city and there is noise and other things. We get all sorts of random things and police will turn up. There was nothing untoward. No one was removed from the hotel. It’s not uncommon to get people complaining about noise.

"[Hotel staff] were actually just trying to get ready for breakfast the next day. That’s all it was. Everything has been pretty smooth sailing and we were happy for Hobart to have the cricket down here and have the teams down here."

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