Queensland’s Minister for Sport Tim Mander has blasted ‘silly Pommy cricketers’ Ben Stokes, Mark Wood and Jamie Smith for riding around Brisbane on Lime Scooters without helmets.
Police confirmed on Tuesday that they would not be taking any action over the matter, with officers stating that they had spoken with the trio and ‘educated them on compliance requirements’ associated with using the scooters in the Sunshine State.
In Queensland, it is a legal requirement for those operating an electric scooter to wear a bicycle helmet or a motorbike helmet. Many scooters around Brisbane also have helmets attached to them for use, with Smith and Wood seen riding the electric vehicles while their helmets were still attached to the front of the scooter.
Those caught failing to wear one of the helmets without a suitable exemption can be slapped with a hefty fine of up to $166 (£82) for breaching Section 256A(1) of Queensland’s transport rules.
Mander, meanwhile, took a dig at the three England stars, stating that their actions were ‘irresponsible’.
‘What the Pommy cricketers did was very irresponsible, but it has helped us with a new road safety campaign,’ he said.
‘Don’t be silly like the Pommy cricketers, wear your helmet.’
Queensland’s Transport Minister, Brent Mickelberg, also laid into the English stars.
‘I don’t want to see anyone bowled over on our streets – though judging by recent form, the Poms seem to prefer getting themselves out,’ he said.
‘We’ve already seen too many fatal and serious e-scooter crashes, and riding without a helmet isn’t just a bad shot – it’s a dangerous one.
‘The rules are there for a reason, no matter who you are – strap on a helmet and stay safe.’
After the images of the England cricketers riding the scooters went viral, Queensland police issued the following statement.
‘The Queensland Police Service (QPS) are aware of images being circulated of persons riding e-scooters without helmets within the Brisbane area,’ a spokesperson said.
‘Officers have since engaged with those persons to inform and educate them on compliance requirements associated with E-mobility devices in Queensland.
‘The QPS continues to actively engage with communities across the state to promote safe practices, educate users on compliance requirements, and enforce road rules when appropriate to reduce the risks posed by unsafe and non-compliant use associated with E-mobility devices, including E-bikes, personal mobility devices (PMDs) or e-scooters, and electric motorbikes.’
Wood has been ruled out of this week’s second Ashes Test at The Gabba after his troublesome knee injury, which kept him out of the majority of the English domestic season, flared up once again. The Durham bowler underwent surgery on his knee in March.
The English pace bowler, who returned figures of 0-44 in the Perth Test, had raised alarm bells over his fitness too, with the photographs showing Wood riding a sit-down e-scooter with a plastic brace on his knee. He was later seen watching his team-mates train at The Gabba from the sidelines.
Selectors for the tourists have since opted to replace him in the starting XI for the second Test with all-rounder Will Jacks, who will bat at No 8.
The images of the scooters present an unwanted distraction for captain Stokes ahead of his side’s must-win Test at The Gabba, which begins on Thursday. England have come under fire for their pre-series preparations and the decision not to send some of their key batters to Canberra over the weekend for a pink ball warm-up match against the Prime Minister’s XI.
Former Australia pace bowler Mitchell Johnson branded the tourists ‘arrogant’, while the West Australian newspaper penned a headline calling Stokes ‘cocky captain complainer’.
Last week, Stokes hit out at those who had questioned his side’s character.
‘I think arrogant might be a little bit too far, but that’s OK. We’ll take the rough with the smooth,’ he said.
‘Call us whatever you want. I’d rather words like ‘rubbish’, but ‘arrogant’, I’m not so sure about that. We didn’t have the Test match that we wanted to but we were great in passages of that game.’
He also stretched an olive branch to the former England players Michael Vaughan and Ian Botham after he had branded them ‘has-beens’ for criticising England’s preparations.
He explained: ‘Everyone knows it was a slip of the tongue. I’ve explained that off the record.
‘Has-beens is a horrible word but it’s the only thing that managed to come out of my mouth in that moment. God, I’m going to be one of those one day! I got the words I said completely wrong.’
