The Professional Cricketers Association gave breathalyser kits (file picture) to ten county teams for educating players. Photo / Greg Bowker
The Professional Cricketers Association gave breathalyser kits (file picture) to ten county teams for educating players. Photo / Greg Bowker
Cricketers are being given breathalyser tests to ensure they are not too drunk to play following concerns over binge-drinking before matches, it was revealed today.
The Professional Cricketers Association gave breathalyser kits to 10 county teams for educating players, but some sides are allegedly using them to ensure nobody selected is too drunk to play.
Former England and Surrey batsman Mark Ramprakash has raised fears about a culture of binge drinking in the sport being boosted by quickly rising salaries for young cricketers, according to Daily Mail.
Former England and Surrey batsman Mark Ramprakash has raised fears about a culture of binge drinking in the sport being boosted by quickly rising salaries for young cricketers. Photo / Getty Images
He said: "If young players show promise they're on to quite good salaries quite quickly. (They) now are rewarded very, very quickly from the age of 19, 20, 21, on the back of a few good innings."
Ramprakash, who is now England's batting coach, added that this sudden pay increase can tempt young cricketers to "go out and enjoy themselves".
All counties were offered the breathalysers by the PCA in 2015 as part of an alcohol education course, and ten decided to take up the offer - but they were not intended to be used for discipline.
It comes after bowler Matt Coles had to miss his Kent side's game against Sussex Sharks yesterday while an investigation is completed into an alleged drink-related incident, reported The Times.
Coles, who was sent home from a Lions tour in 2013 for persistent late-night drinking, has previously denied having a drinking problem. Kent would only say today: "He is unavailable for selection."
Bowler Matt Coles had to miss his Kent side's game against Sussex Sharks while an investigation is completed into an alleged drink-related incident. Photo / Getty Images
Several England cricketers have been notorious for their drunken behaviour in the past, including Andrew Flintoff, who famously got so drunk at the 2007 World Cup that he fell off a pedal.
Flintoff, who has now given up alcohol as part of his battle with depression, was also seen looking bleary-eyed and dishevelled at a Downing Street reception after England's 2005 Ashes triumph.
Monty Panesar was fined for being drunk and disorderly after he was accused of urinating over nightclub bouncers in 2013, although he insisted later that he "wasn't as drunk as people believe".
England cricketer Graeme Swann famously drove after drinking up to four glasses of wine in 2010 to buy a screwdriver to free one of his wife's cats which was stuck under floorboards at their home.
But, despite admitting to police that he "shouldn't have probably been driving", he was cleared of drink driving because a blood sample showing he was over the limit could not be used as evidence.
