England’s booze issues no joke, says sympathetic Darren Lehmann as tourists rocked by more misbehaviour

Tourists are rocked by a third alcohol-related incident in three months after Lions batsman Ben Duckett is suspended for pouring a drink on the head of senior player James Anderson

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Australia coach Darren Lehmann looks on during a training session at the Adelaide Oval. He believes there is an alcohol issue in the England squad. Photo: EPA

Published: 4:36pm, 10 Dec 2017Updated: 11:19pm, 10 Dec 2017

Australia coach Darren Lehmann says England’s latest alcohol-fuelled indiscretion is no laughing matter and his team are not relishing the tourists’ misfortunes.

England were rocked this weekend by a third alcohol-related incident in three months after England Lions batsman Ben Duckett was suspended from a two-day tour match for pouring a drink on the head of senior England player James Anderson following a heated argument.

The Duckett incident follows Ben Stokes’ involvement in a brawl outside a Bristol nightclub in September and Jonny Bairstow’s headbutt greeting for Australia test opener Cameron Bancroft in Perth in late October.

England player Ben Duckett was dropped from the Lions side after his indiscretion. Photo: AP

England coach Trevor Bayliss described Duckett’s incident as “trivial” but “not acceptable”, and Lehmann said he did not see the funny side of his rivals self-destructing.

“I’ve been through all that, so no, I don’t have a chuckle at that,” Lehmann said on Sunday.

“You have those situations at various stages throughout your career. It’s not funny,” he added.