sportbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

England Cricketers Had To Share A 15-Hour Flight With Aussie World Cup Winners

England Cricketers Had To Share A 15-Hour Flight With Aussie World Cup Winners

Not ideal for the English players, not ideal at all.

Max Sherry

Max Sherry

A bunch of English cricketers probably had the journey from hell as they shared a 15-hour overnight flight to Brisbane with Australia's T20 World Cup winners.

England were knocked out of the T20 World Cup in the semi-finals, while the Aussie went on to win their maiden title by downing New Zealand in the Final.

But instead of getting on a flight Down Under straight after their semi-final defeat, England's Ashes players were forced to wait until after the World Cup's conclusion to depart Dubai.

But unfortunately for them, that meant they were stuck on a flight with the Aussies who were undoubtedly celebrating their historic victory long into the night.

Jonny Bairstow, Jos Buttler, Dawid Malan, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood and England's coaching staff had to endure the torture for 15 long hours.

Details regarding how they coped are yet to emerge, although you could probably hazard a guess that they found the whole ordeal pretty grim.

"I just can't have them (Australia) win that game. It's going to be unbearable," English bowler Wood told the BBC prior to the flight.

"You can look them in the eye and say congratulations to them but when you are about to head off to an Ashes series against them, the last thing you want is them feeling confident and waving a trophy around in your face before you've even got there."

PA

For domestic journeys by plane, it's not particularly uncommon for opposing teams to fly together.

But to be side-by-side for long-haul flights, especially with a heated rivalry like the Ashes just around the corner, is surely pretty rare.

"There is one bunch of cricketers who won't be enjoying this, watching on, and that's England's Ashes players," former England captain Mike Atherton told Sky Sports after Australia lifted the trophy in Dubai.

"That could be an interesting plane journey."

Well, he probably wasn't wrong.

If the Aussies' dressing room celebrations are anything to go by, then it'd be non-stop beverages and that 'Free From Desire' tune on repeat on the plane.

Featured Image Credit: PA/Twitter/Glenn Maxwell

Topics: Cricket, ashes, Cricket News, Australia