England’s Ashes tour took an unexpected turn off the field when a member of the team’s security staff was involved in a brief altercation with a television camera operator at Brisbane airport, just days
before the third Test. In the footage released by Channel Seven, England’s minder Colin Rhooms is heard repeatedly telling the camera operator Nick Carrigan to “get out of my face, mate” and eventually pushing him back as he attempted to film players in transit.
The incident occurred as England’s squad departed for Adelaide, where the must-win day-night Test begins on Wednesday. Channel Seven, the host broadcaster, later defended its crew conduct and suggested the matter could be taken further. “While conducting routine filming in a public space, the camera operator was physically confronted despite acting respectfully and professionally,’’ a spokesperson told Code Sports. The safety and wellbeing of our staff is paramount. This matter is being taken seriously and is now being managed through the appropriate channels.
England have declined to comment but privately the flare-up has been viewed as stupidly needless, not least given relations between the players and the very same broadcast crew had been cordial while the squad enjoyed a mid-tour break in the Queensland resort of Noosa.
Multiple requests for players in this series to be given space and that no questions be asked, requests that have not always been adhered to. Broadcast journalists in Australia at airports have become a feature of cricket tours in recent years. A year ago, Virat Kohli was involved in a heated exchange with a broadcast journalist at Melbourne airport during India’s tour after reportedly believing his children had just been filmed. The third match of the series will start on December 17.
