Batsman Ben Duckett was dropped from an England tour match in Australia on Saturday after reportedly pouring a drink over fast bowler James Anderson in a Perth bar. It's the latest controversy in a troubled Ashes tour for England. "(Duckett) has been suspended for England's two-day warm-up match against a CA XI on disciplinary grounds for an incident that occurred on Thursday night in a bar in Perth," the England and Wales Cricket Board said.
Duckett is part of the England Lions squad, which had joined up with the full England team in Perth ahead of the third Ashes Test at the WACA, which starts Thursday.
The 23-year-old Duckett was due to open the innings on day one of the tour match against a Cricket Australia XI.
The ECB statement said the incident "was reported by security to management and the bar was frequented by Lions and England players. The incident was an internal matter and did not include members of the general public. Duckett faces a disciplinary hearing over the next 24 hours and we will communicate the outcome of that in due course."
In a serious embarrassment for English cricket, the incident occurred the first evening after ECB director Andrew Strauss had agreed to a relaxing of a midnight curfew imposed two weeks ago.
Asked to confirm reports that Duckett had poured a drink over a senior player, England coach Trevor Bayliss said: "I think that was the issue. It was boys being boys, I suppose, but totally unacceptable."
British media reports said the senior player was Anderson, England's most successful bowler.
"Everyone has been warned about how even small things can be blown out of all proportion. I'm disappointed," Bayliss said. "With what we have had to go through already with these problems, it is not acceptable. I'm not sure what more I can say to the players. I'm sure there will be some stern words from above."
Disciplinary issues have severely disrupted England's Ashes campaign. It trails Australia 2-0 after defeats in the opening two tests with three Tests to go.
Influential allrounder Ben Stokes isn't with the team after being suspended following an altercation in Bristol, England, in September. England's Jonny Bairstow made headlines for a reported headbutt on Australia batsman Cameron Bancroft at the beginning of the tour. That was also in a Perth bar and triggered the curfew.
"There will be an investigation (into the latest incident) and we will get to the root of that," Bayliss said. "It was after midnight. I think it is fairly trivial but, in the current climate, it is not acceptable."
(With AP Inputs)
