Richard Thompson disappointed by England players’ off-field behaviour, justifies post-Ashes approach

Richard Thompson has spoken of his “enormous disappointment” at the poor behaviour that has led to eight England men’s players being caught up in off-field incidents in the last year.

Thompson, chair of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), is frustrated that indiscipline away from the cricket field has led to reputational damage for the English game and allegations of a drinking culture within the men’s squad.

The latest incident saw Brydon Carse pictured in handcuffs in the early hours of Sunday morning outside a nightclub in Derby after celebrating Durham’s victory against Derbyshire which has led to a Cricket Regulator investigation. Carse was briefly arrested at the scene but later de-arrested. Derbyshire Police have since confirmed they are looking into allegations of an assault in Derby city centre, though did not state whether they are investigating Carse.

It follows a turbulent spell for England as much off the field as on it which has also seen centrally-contracted players in Ben Stokes, who retired during the third Test defeat against New Zealand, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Josh Tongue, Ben Duckett, Gus Atkinson and Matthew Potts all involved in alcohol-related incidents.

“I have to be careful what I say because the Cricket Regulator is involved with a recent event … but when you play for your country, you are judged by a far higher standard,” said Thompson, speaking to Mike Atherton on Sky Sports at Lord’s ahead of the second day of the second Test against Pakistan.

“What comes with wearing those three lions is respect, responsibility and pride. Unless you live and breathe those three qualities then there’s a problem. It’s enormously disappointing (that England’s professionalism has come under such scrutiny).”

Thompson paid tribute to England captain Joe Root, whom he played a big role in persuading to take on the role for a second time when Stokes quit both the captaincy and international cricket following a night out in Chelsea and a series defeat to New Zealand.

“I don’t think anyone could have summed it up better than Joe did earlier this week,” said Thompson of Root’s pre-second Test media conference when the captain said he was “seriously hacked off that we keep on doing stupid things”. “Every player, and I think Joe articulated this brilliantly, has to understand the responsibility that comes with playing for England.”

Brydon Carse in practice with England at Headingley ahead of the first Test against Pakistan (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

England’s record on the field has been just as disturbing and Thompson was asked why more immediate action was not taken after the 4-1 Ashes humiliation in Australia last winter.

Stokes, coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key all kept their jobs but now, eight months on, Key is the last man of the trio standing and a new coach in Stephen Fleming arrives next month to take charge ahead of the tour of South Africa in December.

“We all wanted to be very considered about that,” said the former Surrey chair. “When you lose 4-1 the expectation is that heads are going to roll. That’s what has always happened before. The reality is every time you lose the Ashes a number of people lose their jobs.

“You learn nothing from it. You never get the chance to understand what those lessons were and put them right.

“We also, within days of the Ashes finishing, were going into a Sri Lanka white-ball tour and then a World Cup which involved the same coaching group, the same players.

“And the T20 World Cup was an important one in which we narrowly lost in the semi-final to India. So we wanted to be measured and we felt there were lessons that could have been and should have been learned. But the way this season has played out off the field…”