Trouble for Joe Root and James Anderson as ECB launches investigation after duo spotted among ‘intoxicated’ people
Joe Root, James Anderson (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images)
England had a forgettable tour Down Under as they were handed a 0-4 drubbing by arch-rivals Australia in the recently-concluded Ashes 2021/22 series. After managing a hard-fought draw in the penultimate Test at the SCG, Root & Co. suffered a humiliating 146-run loss in the fifth & final Test at Hobart.
The English team has hardly recovered from their Ashes mauling and now, there’s more bad news for them as it has been reported that the England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has launched an inquiry after Test skipper Joe Root and veteran pacer James Anderson were spotted among intoxicated people at their Hobart team hotel.
The ECB has launched an investigation after an early-morning drinking session at England’s team hotel in Hobart ended after the police arrived at the venue and urged the players to sleep. According to reports, Joe Root and James Anderson were also seen among the intoxicated people.
“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’s statement read as quoted by ESPN Cricinfo.
“The hotel management received a noise complaint by a hotel guest, and as is commonplace in Australia, the local police attended the scene. When the players were 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 statement further read.
“The ECB will investigate further. Until such times, we will make no further comment”, it added.
Coming back to the contest, Stuart Broad’s three-wicket haul bundled out Australia for just 155 as the visitors needed 271 runs to manage a consolation win. In reply, England seemed to be in the driver’s seat as openers Rory Burns (26) & Zak Crawley (36) added 68 runs for the opening stand. But once the duo was dismissed, the next eight wickets fell for just 56 runs as the Joe Root-led side were skittled for 124.
