Ben Stokes speaks out after Aussies fume over 'pathetic' post-Ashes beer snub

England captain Ben Stokes has spoken out in the wake of controversy surrounding his team's perceived rejection of a post-Ashes series beer with the Australians. Players from both sides traditionally share a drink and a chat after a hard-fought series, but England were clearly in no mood to partake on Sunday night.

Australian players were reportedly spotted looking into the England dressing rooms after play, hoping to be invited in, before eventually giving up and leaving the ground at around 10.45pm. The English team were then seen coming out shortly after the Aussies had left.

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According to AAP, Australian players asked numerous times if they could enter the English sheds, but the door was locked and the tourists weren't let in. Fox Sports quoted an unnamed source within the Australian team as saying: “We don’t really care, we’ve got the urn, but after a hard-fought series, it is pretty pathetic. Talk about the spirit of cricket.”

England sources have since claimed that they planned to have a drink with the Aussie players, but post-match meetings and extended retirement presentations for Stuart Broad and Mooen Ali took longer then expected. The hosts said they were surprised to learn that the Aussies had left the ground.

Cricket journalist Bharat Sundaresan wrote: “Some clarification from the English camp now that their wrap-up was extended because of the retirees and presentations and that they were keen on drinking with the Aussies and surprised that the visitors left early. Multiple misunderstandings at the end of a great Ashes?”

Stokes took to Twitter on Monday night to explain the situation and said the players met up at a different location. “To clarify… Our wrap took longer than expected because of multiple last time events,” Stokes tweeted. “We decided to meet up in the night club rather than the dressing room.”

Did England intentionally snub Australia's beer request?

However previous comments from England coach Brendon McCullum might suggest the snub was completely intentional. Speaking after the second Test, McCullum said the England players wouldn't be keen on having a beer with the Aussies any time soon due to the controversial manner in which Australia had won and taken a 2-0 series lead.

England were left fuming after Jonny Bairstow was stumped by Alex Carey when he carelessly walked out of his crease thinking the ball was dead at the end of the over. However Carey's actions were completely legal and the general consensus around the cricket world is Bairstow only had himself to blame.

"I can't imagine we'll be having a beer with them any time soon," McCullum told the BBC. "We have three Tests to land some blows and try and win the Ashes. That is where our focus will be."

Ben Stokes denies falling out with Australian players

McCullum and captain Ben Stokes also accused Australia of breaching the spirit of cricket, with relations between the two camps suffering as a result. But Stokes indicated early on Monday evening that relations with Australian players had been friendly throughout the series.

"That's the progression of franchise cricket to be honest," Stokes said. "There are a lot of players who have relationships with the opposition now, not just England and Australia, but with other teams around the world.

"Especially with the IPL, you can spend nine weeks with someone who you are playing against. I spent two or three years at Rajasthan with Steve Smith. You get to know each other and stuff like that."

It's not the first time Australia has been left high and dry while seeking a post-series beer with their opposition. A similar incident occurred following the 2017 Border-Gavaskar series, where Virat Kohli's Indian team refused to drink with Australia following a fiery series.

England won the fifth Test by 49 runs to square the series 2-2. Australia retained the Ashes for the fourth-consecutive series but failed in their quest to win the series outright on English soil for the first time since 2001.

with AAP

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