POLICE turned up at the England cricketers’ hotel to break up a drinking session because coach Graham Thorpe was reportedly smoking a cigar INDOORS.
Australian authorities were called to the team hotel in Hobart at 6.30am due to a complaint about ‘intoxicated people’.
And the ECB have launched an investigation into the matter after footage taken by Thorpe showed Jimmy Anderson and Joe Root among those there.
But it is now understood Thorpe also broke Tasmanian law by smoking a cigar inside the team hotel.
England swiftly apologised for “any inconvenience caused” after admitting that a member of the public had complained and the police were subsequently called.
Thorpe’s footage – which also showed Australian players Nathan Lyon, Alex Carey and Travis Head present – was taken eight hours after the final Ashes Test.
The police can be heard saying: ““You’re too loud. You’ve obviously been asked to pack up, so we’ve been asked to come.
“Time for bed. Thank you. They just want to pack up.”
As the players began to get up and move inside, Thorpe could be heard saying: “We’ve got Nathan Lyon, Joe Root, Alex Carey, Jimmy Anderson.
“Just video this, just for the lawyers. Say good morning, everyone.”
It is thought the players were drinking in the Bellerive Oval dressing rooms until around 2.30am before they then went to the team hotel.
Root was shocked when he heard the video had become public.
This latest embarrassment comes after Sunsport reported on Monday a drinking culture among the England squad, with some members of the coaching staff boozing on the tour as much as players.
A midnight curfew has remained in place since the last Ashes tour of Australia four years ago.
But there is no curfew at the team hotel – meaning players and backroom staff can stay up drinking into the early hours.
The video became public just hours after a disastrous Ashes series came to an end for the England team.
They were comprehensively beaten 4-0 and failed to reach 300 in an innings for the first time in more than 60 years.
