Healy labels drinks refusal 'unacceptable'

Former Test wicketkeeper Ian Healy has labelled Australia's rejection of a dressing-room beer with England as "unacceptable", citing the decision as a wasted opportunity to learn more about their opponents.

Following the first Test, England quick James Anderson revealed Australia captain Michael Clarke declined Alastair Cook’s invitation for dressing-room drinks post-match.

“When ‘Cookie’ approached me after the game I was little surprised to be honest,” Clarke said. “Only because it hasn’t happened too many times in my career, no matter who we’ve played, that we’ve gone into the changeroom after the first Test if you’re playing a longer Test match (series).

“Normally we go in or they come after a series, so I spoke to Darren Lehmann and a few of the senior players to get their view on it because it was new to me.

“They were of the opinion, like I was, that at the end of the series we’ll make sure that we go in and have a drink with England or England come into our changeroom.

“But in saying that we’ll worry about it at the end of this Test as well, and then the end of the third Test and the fourth Test as well.

“I think the most important thing is, as everybody has seen, is the way the game was played was extremely respectful.

“I think it shows that both teams have the utmost respect for each other, the fact that we’re having this conversation.

“But for us it’s not a big deal, and I don’t think it’s a big deal for England either.”

Healy believes Australia should have seized the chance to learn more about their opponents.

Opinion has been split this week over "beer-gate", with Peter Siddle mocking the England paceman and former Australian batsman Matthew Hayden calling him a "clown" with a history of making private dressing-room affairs public.

But Healy, who played 119 Tests for Australia between 1988 and 1999, said it wasn't on for skipper Clarke and his team to turn down an offer to "get in and learn your opposition".

"It's unacceptable if that's what happened," Healy told Sky Sports Radio on Thursday. "We're hearing stories that the teams aren't talking that much which is unacceptable.

"The losing team should be all over the winning team at the end of a Test. Get in there and find out what is going on in that dressing room."

In recent years, the practice has been for teams to share a drink at the end of a series but not during it.

Anderson noted England and New Zealand had shared drinks, regardless of results, following both matches in their drawn 1-1 Test series earlier this year.

Healy said everyone in the Australian squad should take some blame for what he saw as a bad decision.

"Senior players, coaching staff, they get so wrapped up in themselves and getting recovery done and all that sort of stuff," he said.

"In a game of cricket, as soon as that hooter rings at the end of day five or day four as it was in Cardiff, it's beer time.

"Don't worry about recovery, we'll do that tomorrow. Get in and learn your opposition.

"It might need to be examined what happened there."

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