Jonny Bairstow is under a shadow after Fox News claimed he headbutted Australia opener Cameron Bancroft at the start of the Ashes tour.

The ECB have refused to comment or confirm they are investigating the claim against the England batsman, which surfaced during the first Test in Brisbane.

Fox Sports News claims the incident occurred in The Avenue bar in Perth almost a month ago after members of the England squad bumped into members of the Western Australia squad by chance. Bairstow is alleged to have made contact with the side of Bancroft’s head and later apologised.

There is no police involvement and no official reports were made. The seriousness of the incident has yet to be substantiated.

If there is any substance to the claim, the ECB would be put in an embarrassing position. Bairstow was one of those fined and warned about his future conduct by the ECB after accepting a charge of ‘unprofessional conduct’ for his behaviour in Bristol on the same night that Ben Stokes and Alex Hales were involved in a violent incident.

The new allegations came to light when Bairstow came out to bat in the second innings of the first Test at the Gabba. While no England player is welcomed to the crease with smiles, Bairstow received a particularly ferocious reception, which led to questions being asked as to the motivation.

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