Ashes round-up: England apologise for urinating on cricket pitch

In other news, Michael Vaughan demands 'small refund' after main players are rested for ODIs and Glenn Maxwell looks forward to more banter.

The England cricket team conceded their Ashes celebrations were over the top. Alastair Grant / AP Photo

England have apologised for any offence caused during the celebrations of their Ashes series win at The Oval on Sunday.

Some of England's players are alleged to have urinated on the pitch hours after the series ended on Sunday night.

And in a statement released on the England and Wales Cricket Board's website, the team have now apologised if any of their actions may have caused offence.

"The England cricket team would like to state that during our celebrations after winning the Ashes at no time was there any intention to disrespect Surrey CCC, the Oval or anyone else involved in the game we love," the statement on www.ecb.co.uk read.

"As a team we pride ourselves on respecting all things cricket including the opposition and the grounds we play at. We got carried away amongst the euphoria of winning such a prestigious series and accept that some of our behaviour was inappropriate.

"If that has caused any offence to anyone we apologise for that and want to reassure people that it was a simple error of judgement more than anything else."

Vaughan asks for refund

Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, said fans who have bought tickets for the one-day international series against Australia deserve a refund after the hosts' left the spine of their Ashes-winning side out of the squad.

Test captain Alastair Cook, Stuart Broad, Ian Bell, James Anderson and Graeme Swann, who all featured in the recent 3-0 Ashes series win over arch-rivals Australia, were all left out of the squads announced on Tuesday for the lone one-dayer against Ireland and the five-match ODI campaign against Australia.

Australia too have made wholesale changes - only seven of their 18-man ODI squad played in the Test series - and it is clear both countries are already looking ahead to the return Ashes in Australia in November.

However, star batsman Kevin Pietersen has been included in the squad for the Australia series, with fellow Ashes-winning batsmen Joe Root and Jonathan Trott also set to face England's arch-rivals in the one-day format after they too were excused the trip to Dublin.

Nevertheless, Vaughan wrote on his Twitter page: "I would have only rested Captain Cook.. Plenty of time to rest from Sept 16th – Nov 21st!!!? Can't sell tickets then rest 5 star names!!!!

"No problems resting players but I think Supporters who have paid good money to watch the best should get a small refund..."

Eoin Morgan, the former Ireland international, will captain the side in the absence of Cook and Broad, with the squad including five uncapped players in pacemen Chris Jordan and Jamie Overton as well as Morgan's fellow ex-Ireland star Boyd Rankin.

Maxwell set for some banter

Glenn Maxwell, the Australia all-rounder, is preparing himself for plenty of banter in the forthcoming limited-overs internationals.

With both sides set to field much-changed teams at the Rose Bowl on Thursday, Maxwell does not anticipate any lingering feuds – such as the one between Michael Clarke, the Australia captain, and Pietersen – at the start of the white-ball series.

"All that was said was a bit hyped up and with the radio [as well]," Maxwell told Sky Sports News on Tuesday. "There's going to be a new set of banter in the T20, different squads and obviously a few mates as well so it should be good fun.

"It's all part of the game, it's good to be a part of and both teams play in the right spirit and I think the crowd enjoy it."

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