Photographs have emerged of Australian cricketers, Michael Clarke and Phil Hughes drinking at a Melbourne bar well into the night on the eve of their Ashes series defeat at the MCG.
According to media reports, the duo was spotted drinking at the World Restaurant Bar on the third night of the Test, which Australia lost by an innings and 157 runs to help England retain the Ashes for the first time in 24 years.
Test vice-captain Clarke has denied any wrongdoing. "Phillip and I went to a restaurant bar, had dinner there, I had two drinks and didn't have a late night at all," Clarke said.
He then admitted to leaving the restaurant to go to the casino to meet up with Michael Slater for some advice, because he "wasn't scoring as many runs as (he) would have liked."
A 25-year-old Melbourne woman, Emily Goodyear, had earlier claimed the duo seemed to have no regrets and told her "it doesn't matter that we are out, we've lost the match anyway."
The lady had even clicked their pictures and had also offered media a photo of her with the cricketers in return for a cash payment.
{{/usCountry}}The lady had even clicked their pictures and had also offered media a photo of her with the cricketers in return for a cash payment.
{{/usCountry}}However, Cricket Australia (CA) has reposed faith in the duo and has said there was no problem with their behaviour.
"It's unrealistic to expect people to spend 220 days or more a year eating hotel room service and living their lives as if they're on a Sunday school picnic," said CA official Peter Young.