Cook allows Root and co to 'carry on drinking'

England captain Alastair Cook has reportedly given his permission to his team to carry on drinking whenever they win despite England batsman Joe Root getting punched by Australian opener David Warner in a Birmingham bar on last Sunday.

Following the incident, Warner was dropped from Australia's ICC Champions Trophy match against New Zealand and a disciplinary hearing could decide to send him home in disgrace, the Sun reported.

As England prepared to face Sri Lanka at The Oval on Thursday, Cook said that it is important for players to let down their hair sometimes as they do not often get to win international games, adding that celebrating wins builds team spirit as long as it is within certain parameters they set as a team and if the schedule allows.

Cook further said that they were celebrating on Sunday night as they had a couple of days off after the match against Australia on Saturday and did not have any training till Tuesday, adding that their next game was scheduled after another five days.

Stating that he does not believe that any of their players had done anything wrong, Cook said that their statement is a fair reflection of what happened, adding that Root has not suffered any physical injury from the incident.

The incident has provided an explosive build-up to this summer's Ashes series and the 26 matches between the bitter rivals during the next eight months.

Warner was getting the drinks in at Edgbaston yesterday or, rather, carrying them as Australia's game with New Zealand was washed out by rain, the report added.