Ballance warned after boozy night out in Nottingham

England have had to deal with a minor headache away from the Jimmy Anderson v Ravindra Jadeja fracas thanks to a boisterous night out from Gary Ballance in Nottingham at the conclusion of the first Test.

Ballance, the 24-year-old batsman who made a vital 71 in England’s only innings of the match, was photographed, allegedly in an inebriated state, leaving a nightclub by the name Pandora’s Box, shirtless.

Peter Moores, the England head coach, has had to remind Ballance about his responsibility of maintaining a certain “image” as an England cricketer, but re-iterated that the high jinks would not threaten Ballance’s spot in the team in any manner.

“I am aware that some of the England players were caught on camera relaxing after the conclusion of the recent Trent Bridge Test match. As the players had been released at the end of the first Test and were not due to meet up to begin preparations for the second Test until Monday evening, and there were no suggestions of impropriety there is no need for any disciplinary action,” said Moores, of the incident that occurred soon after England and India played out a draw in the first Test. “I will however be reminding all players of their responsibilities to uphold the best possible image for England cricket.”

English tabloids published photos of a topless Ballance, beer in hand, celebrating at the nightclub, and quoted fellow patrons as saying that the England player bought drinks for others at the club, and eventually had to be helped out of the venue at closing time.

The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed that other England cricketers were present at the venue, but did not reveal their identities. Media reports suggested that James Anderson, Joe Root and Liam Plunkett were with Ballance.

If Root was indeed present, this would not be the first time he was involved in a late-night alcohol-fuelled incident, given his altercation with David Warner, at a bar in Birmingham during the Champions Trophy last year.

The fact that England’s players were given the night off on Sunday, and day off on Monday, meant that Ballance had not broken either a team curfew or any written or unwritten rules over consumption of alcohol.