The Australian and English cricket teams did not enjoy their customary post-series drinks after the fifth day of the final ashes test match at The Oval.
In a series that will go down as one of the greatest ever, both countries played with fierce passion with the result ending in a 2-2 tie.
Despite the angst throughout the series, no one expected this to be the case after all is said and done.
SEN Cricket expert Bharat Sundaresan, who was at The Oval on Monday night, said the Australians did ask England on multiple occasions for a drink, but were met with deaf ears.
“Didn’t look like the Australian and English teams had their customary post-series drinks tonight at The Oval. Did notice the Aussies hanging around for quite a while waiting & Steve Smith even peering into the English rooms a couple of times before giving up,” Sundaresan tweeted.
“Now hearing that the Aussie players did ask the England team about getting together half a dozen times but didn’t get a response and that allegedly the home team stayed behind locked doors.”
Reacting to the news, Gerard Whateley expressed his disappointment with the Poms.
“That’s really disappointing to see in the aftermath,” Whateley said.
“I love their cricket, England, but they are a very difficult team to like if they’re conducting themselves like that, though.”
Sundaresan later added the English perspective.
“Some clarification from the English camp now that their wrap up was extended because of the retirees & presentations & that they were keen on drinking with the Aussies & surprised that the visitors left early. Multiple misunderstandings at the end of a great #Ashes?”
However, Fox Sports reports that the Aussies were simply rejected by the English in their attempts to bring the teams together.
“Talk about the spirit of cricket,” one source told Fox Sports.
“We don’t really care, we’ve got the urn, but after a hard-fought series it is pretty pathetic.”
English coach Brendon McCullum previously said earlier in the series that they didn't want to have a beer with the Aussies, in the wake of the Jonny Bairstow stumping at Lord's.
Didn’t look like the Australian and English teams had their customary post-series drinks tonight at The Oval. Did notice the Aussies hanging around for quite a while waiting & Steve Smith even peering into the English rooms a couple of times before giving up #Ashes pic.twitter.com/msrYkqzqlG
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) July 31, 2023
If true, poor behaviour from a team which now sits appropriately as a symbol for a nation of whining blowhards. Whatever high ground they pretended to occupy is crumbled beneath them.
— Andy Maher (@AndyMaherDFA) July 31, 2023
The #Ashes are Australia’s. https://t.co/TaxhC4XYD7