Is the Australian cricket team full of poor losers or are they just anti-social?
Or perhaps Michael Clarke’s men prefer business before pleasure?
Australia were comprehensively defeated by the English in the first Ashes Test in Cardiff, going down by 169 runs with more than a day to spare.
The Aussies will be looking for a much improved performance in the second of five Tests, which starts on Thursday night (AEST) at Lord’s.
Despite the result, it has become customary for two sides to share a post-match dressing-room beer at the conclusion of a Test, however Clarke declined the English offer much to the bemusement of Anderson.
Anderson revealed that the English and New Zealand sides had shared drinks following both matches in their recent draw series in England, saying that the result of a match shouldn’t determine whether or not a drink is shared between two sides.
“After the New Zealand series, we had a beer after each game with them,” Anderson said.
“We found it was quite an enjoyable thing, just to chew the fat after a hard Test. It didn’t matter whether we won or lost.
“At Headingley (a match that England lost against the Black Caps), we still went into their dressing room and had a beer with them.
“That’s (the Australians) prerogative… (Alastair Cook) went and asked them. We were all happy to do it. I don’t know why (the Australians) didn’t come in.”
The news has irked Australian cricket fans, many of whom believe it is bad form to not share a beer with an opponent following a Test, no matter the result.
@Peter_Fitz Glad to see Aussie sportsmanship alive and.. Oh, wait... http://t.co/0zdTd6x4nc
— Scott Phillips (@TMFGilla) July 13, 2015
It is widely known that during the fiercely fought 2005 Ashes series in England, the two sides shared a drink at the conclusion of each match, despite Australia’s series loss to the Poms.
But it remains to be seen if the Australians loosen up and down a few ales with the Poms should they triumph in the second Test at Lord’s.