Moeen Ali fears misbehaving England stars will drive young fans away from cricket

Moeen Ali believes cricketers risk driving young fans away from the game unless they change their behaviour.

England are under fire from supporters back home after the second alcohol-related incident of their Ashes tour of Australia, with Ben Duckett – a batsman who is part of the Lions squad –thought to have poured a drink over the head of Jimmy Anderson, their leading wicket-taker in Tests, in a Perth bar on Thursday night.

The scene of the incident, the Avenue bar, was the same place where wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow greeted Australia batsman Cameron Bancroft with a ‘headbutt’ on October 29, England’s first night on tour. When that story emerged a month later, a midnight curfew was imposed on the squad, although this was relaxed on the night of the Duckett incident.

Duckett was suspended from this weekend’s game between an England XI and a Cricket Australia XI, and was due to learn on Sunday whether he would face further penalty.

Moeen does not drink alcohol and warned players to consider the next generation. He said: “As a cricketer, there have always been these sorts of things from a young age. But maybe the culture needs to change now with so much media and coverage of cricket.

“We want cricket to grow for kids, and for families to come and watch so we have to be on our best behaviour. It’s not always easy, and the guys are on tour for a long time and feel like they want to go out. We have to behave ourselves.

“The off-field behaviour needs to improve. We all know that and hopefully that will happen in the future. We're all grown men and should know how to behave. Through county cricket all the way up to international cricket, the individual needs to be responsible for his behaviour.”

Moeen captained the England side, featuring mainly fringe players and members of the Lions squad, in the two-day game at Perth’s Richardson Park, which ended in a draw.

Mark Wood, the fast bowler, found encouraging pace and looked ready for a return to Test cricket after his many ankle problems – though England are expected to stick with an unchanged side for the Third Test, which starts at the WACA on Thursday.

England are 2-0 down in the five-match series and must avoid defeat in Perth to have any hope of retaining the Ashes.