08 July 2023 , 12:45
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Claims that Alex Carey failed to pay a £30 haircut bill in Leeds are "untrue", according to Cricket Australia.
Carey and his Australia team-mates are in Yorkshire for the third Ashes test at Headingley, where a draw will be enough for them to retain the urn. The wicketkeeper attracted plenty of attention earlier in the series at Lord's after his controversial stumping of Jonny Bairstow, but Aussie officials have been quick to play down these latest reports.
The haircut story was repeated on Test Match Special by former England captain Alastair Cook. However, there appears to be more than meets the eye.
“The barber says the Australians had been in,” Cook had said. “He didn’t know his cricket that 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 …’
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“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 ones, and he promised him he would have a transfer later on in the day, and this was just before he shut. This is a true story. He might have paid by now.”
Alex Carey has not had a haircut since June, Australia claim (PA)According to AAP, though, the story isn't true. Officials are said to have spoken to the broadcaster to confirm Carey hasn't had his hair cut since the World Test Championship final in June.
Another player is said to have later paid by international transfer after not having cash on them at the time of the cut. According to management, they will return with a receipt in an effort to clear up any confusion between the barber and the unidentifed Aussie player.
“They all came in just before we shut," barber Adam Mahmood told The Sun. "We cut their hair and had a great laugh, but we don’t accept cards and Alex said he had no cash on him.
Alastair Cook repeated the haircut story on Test Match special (PA)“Well, there’s a Tesco cash machine literally round the corner he could have run to. He could have nipped back to their hotel and been no more than five minutes but instead he said he would transfer it.
“Maybe he forgot. I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt but if it’s not paid by Monday, I won’t be happy.”
Carey was dismissed for just eight in Australia's first innings at Headingley, with his wicket one of five taken by Mark Wood as the tourists fell for 263. However, he took two catches as England could only muster 237, and Australia ended day two on 116-4 before rain delayed the start of play on the third day.