Aussies snub post-Ashes test beer

The England cricket team’s offer of a beer after the first Ashes test in Cardiff was turned down by the Australians it has been reported.

England won the first test match by a comfortable 169 runs last Saturday

Fast bowler James Anderson said that, despite a good-natured match, the Aussies declined captain Alastair Cook’s suggestion of a drink.

“It was Cooky’s idea and he went and asked them after the game,” Anderson told the Guardian. “We were all happy to do it. I don’t know why they didn’t come in. Maybe they wanted to carry on doing things their way. You’ll have to ask them. It’s their prerogative.”

He explained that after test matches in the recent series against New Zealand the two teams had mingled for a drink after each game.

This used to be common during the Ashes too but the Australians under Michael Clarke are clearly following former skipper Ricky Ponting’s example who halted the tradition a decade ago.

In 2005 the visitors were whitewashed 5-0 in the Ashes and the Tasmanian Ponting decided that post-match brews had made his team too friendly with the English players and that it had sapped their competitive edge.

The two teams do still get together for a drink after the final match of the series.