A bizarre rumour involving a United Kingdom barber shop and Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey was pushed by former England captain Alastair Cook, but Cricket Australia has shot down the claim.
Leeds barber Adam Mahmood told The Sun newspaper that Carey had left his cash-only barber shop without paying and that he had given the touring gloveman until Monday to pay back the A$57.
Cook gave the rumour oxygen on BBC radio during day two of the third Ashes Test.
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“He says, ‘One of them, I think Alex is his name’. I said, ‘Alex Carey. Wicketkeeper?'” said Cook, who was at the same barber shop getting a haircut.
“He says, ‘He hasn’t paid’.
“It was one of those cash-only barbers and he promised him he would do a transfer later on in the day.
“True story,” Cook added.
“He might have paid by now.”
According to News Corp, Cricket Australia has emphatically denied the claim and even said that Carey had not had a haircut since the squad was in London for the World Test Championship final in early June.
According to Cricket Australia, a different Australian squad member had visited the barber shop and paid by international transfer. The governing body said the squad member had a receipt and would return to the barber shop to clear up the matter.
Australian vice-captain Steve Smith whacked The Sun newspaper in a post on social media platform Threads.
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“I can confirm Alex Carey has not had a haircut since we were in London,” Smith wrote.
“Get your facts right The Sun.”
Carey has been at the centre of drama all week, with the Australian causing controversy when he stumped Jonny Bairstow on the final day of the second Test at Lord’s.
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