An already controversial Ashes series took a bizarre turn on a rain-affected day at Headingley as Australia were forced to deny that wicketkeeper Alex Carey failed to pay a Leeds barber for a haircut.
The strange accusation was aired by Sir Alastair Cook during a Test Match Special broadcast earlier this week, the former England captain claiming the barber in question had told him about the incident.
“The barber says the Australians had been in,” Cook explained. “He didn’t know his cricket very well, so he was telling me what they looked like.
“He said Marnus [Labuschagne], the funny one. Then David Warner had a haircut, Usman [Khawaja] had a haircut and he says, ‘Oh there’s another one …’
“He says, ‘One of them, I think Alex is his name’. I said, ‘Alex Carey, wicketkeeper?’
“He says, ‘He hasn’t paid’. It was one of those cash-only barbers, and he promised him he would do a transfer later on in the day.”
However, Cricket Australia have since rubbished the rumour, insisting that Carey has not even had a haircut since last month’s World Test Championship final against India in London.
Adam Mahmood of Doc Barnet’s Barber Shop told The Sun he would “not be happy” if the payment has not been made by Monday.
Australia confirmed that one of their players did visit the barbershop, but subsequently paid for their trim via bank transfer and has a receipt as proof.
The story proved minor distraction as rain continued to fall at Headingley, wiping out the first two sessions of the Third day, with Australia due to resume their second innings with a lead of 142 and six wickets still in hand.
