Cricket’s wildest players – boozers, sex with strippers and even a stolen plane

England are set to face off against Australia in the crunch third Ashes Test.

Emotions are running high after the “cheat” storm which saw Jonny Bairstow controversially stumped by wicketkeeper Alex Carey. But, over the years, the sport has had even more crazy antics, as Nadine Linger reveals in an A to Z guide of cricket’s most colourful characters.

A is for…AFFAIR: After appearing on Strictly, Mark Ramprakash confessed to a six-year affair, sparking the break-up of his 18-year marriage.

B is for…BEEFY: Now a peer, in his cricketing days hard-drinking Ian Botham admitted playing while hungover, got a two-month ban for smoking cannabis and had a court battle with Imran Khan. He also had a two-year fling with an Australian waitress while married.

READ MORE: England cricketers given Bazball warning by Ashes hero ahead of third Australia Test

C is for…CHEATING: Victorian cricketer W.G. Grace was a renowned cheat, who famously refused to walk after an LBW decision, saying: “They have come to see me bat, not you umpire.”

D is for…DRINKING: Freddie Flintoff’s boozy antics off the pitch included turning up drunk to 10 Downing Street after the Ashes win and having to be rescued after falling off a pedalo.

E is for…EATING: Wicket-keeper Jack Russell took a suitcase of baked beans with him on tour because he never ate the local food, while batsman Marcus Trescothick was nicknamed “Banger” as he scoffed so many sausages.

Who would you put forward as cricket's wildest ever player? Let us know in the comments section.

F is for…FEUDS: Yorkshire legend Geoffrey Boycott spent much of his career feuding with fellow players, including Ian Botham, Freddie Trueman and Dickie Bird, who he branded “a loony”.

G is for…GNASHERS: England and Somerset player Arthur Wellard used to take his false teeth out while fielding at silly mid off to unsettle the batsman.

H is for…HAIRY: In 2013, Joe Root was punched by Aussie batsman David Warner at Birmingham’s Walkabout bar. Warner said he was provoked by Root wearing a comedy wig.

I is for…IANS: Ian Botham and former Australia captain Ian Chappell have been locked in a 46-year feud after Chappell claimed Botham threatened him with a beer glass at a Melbourne bar in 1997 – which the Brit denies.

J is for…JOYRIDE: David Gower and teammate John Morris managed to get hold of a Tiger Moth biplane and flew it over an England warm-up match during a 1991 tour of Australia. They were fined £1,000 each.

K is for…KIT: Australia’s Steve Smith has an array of superstitions which include tapping his kit in a precise sequence and taping his shoelaces to his socks.

L is for…LIBIDO: South Africa batsman Herschelle Gibbs spilled on his sex life in his 2010 autobiography including one tale of: “Two beds, two cricketers and three women.”

M is for…METAL: In 1979 Aussie Dennis Lillee tried an aluminium bat against England in the Ashes. He had to ditch it after complaints.

N is for…NAUGHTY: England spinner Monty Panesar was fined for being drunk and disorderly after urinating on bouncers above the entrance of a Brighton nightclub in 2013.

O is for…OZ: Australian batsman David Boon broke a booze record when he necked 52 cans of beer on a flight to England ahead of the 1989 Ashes. The previous record was 44.

P is for…PIETERSEN: In 2012, fiery batsman Kevin Pietersen was dropped from England after it emerged he had sent derogatory messages about captain Andrew Strauss and coach Andy Flower.

Q is for…QUIRKY: Indian cricketer Jahangir Khan killed a sparrow while bowling in 1936. It was stuffed and mounted with the ball that killed it and is on display at Lord’s.

R is for…RADIO: Hampshire star Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie once persuaded an umpire to take a transistor radio onto the pitch so he could listen to a horse race while fielding.

S is for…SLEDGING: Moustachioed Merv Hughes was as famous for his insults as his bowling, once asking England’s Graham Gooch: “Would you like me to bowl a piano and see if you can play that?”

T is for…TASTELESS: England captain Alec Stewart ate the same bland meal for 40 consecutive nights on tour in India – skinless grilled chicken and plain vegetables.

U is for…UMPIRE: Cricketer-turned-umpire David Shepherd lifted one foot off the ground whenever the score reached 111 or its multiples, as he reckoned they were unlucky.

V is for…VIV RICHARDS: The West Indies batting legend refused to wear a helmet during his 17-year career and reckoned he wouldn’t have minded dying as he loved cricket so much.

W is for…WACKY: Wicket-keeper Alan Knott warmed his hands with hot water before heading out, turned up his shirt collar and had his sleeves rolled down to protect his elbows.

X is for…X RATED: The late Shane Warne had threesomes, foursomes, romped with an Aussie stripper behind his wife’s back and had sex on the bonnet of his car.

Y is for…YIKES: West indies star Chris Gayle asked a female interviewer out on TV and boasted to a journalist he had a “very, very big bat”. He also installed a home strip club with dancing pole.

Z is for…ZZZ: Phil Tufnell was nicknamed “The Cat” for his dressing room naps, as well “Two Sugars” due to his love of tea.

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