English media have down played the alleged headbutting incident involving Jonny Bairstow and Cameron Bancroft.
Reports emerged last night that Bairstow is alleged to have headbutted new Australian opener Cameron Bancroft at a Perth bar earlier this month.
Bancroft reportedly did not provoke Bairstow or retaliate and the English keeper is said to have apologised later on in the evening.
The incident came to light when Australian players were heard on the stump mic sledging Bairstow about the incident when he was batting, before details emerged via the Australian media on Sunday night.
However, the UK press believe the Aussie media is trying to derail the tourists' Ashes campaign and are making more out of a very minor incident.
“Relations between England and Australia will plummet now with the tourists suspecting a stitch up,” journalist Nick Hoult wrote in the Telegraph.
“Bairstow was given a send off by David Warner when he was out for 42 as the Australia players sledged him over the incident with Bancroft.
“Cricket Australia did not want to become involved last night but England suspect the Australians have allowed their media to fire bullets for them.
"Bairstow made light contact with the side of Bancroft's head although sources have suggested it was part of a greeting the England wicketkeeper uses with friends at home."
The Sun's John Etheridge also suspect the Australian media is over hyping the incident.
“Sunsport understands Bairstow and other players present have told team supremo Andrew Strauss that it was a minor incident on a team night out and everyone left ‘on good terms'” he wrote.
“They say Bairstow and Bancroft knocked heads while grappling rugby-style in a non-aggressive manner. Both Bancroft's group and the England players continued drinking together at the Avenue bar in Perth.”
Meanwhile former English Test player Matt Prior was slightly more scathing of the Australian media, also refusing to buy into the seriousness of the accusation.
"Not unless everyone starts believing nonsense and making stories out of nothing. Good tactic from the Aussies that's used time and time again! ECB need to quash this immediately," Prior wrote on Twitter.
"There is no story there.
"Does anyone actually know the truth behind the story? When you find out you'll laugh. As I said there is no story."
Australia will resume on day five of the first Test on 0-114, with David Warner unbeaten on 60 and Bancroft not out on 51. The require a further 56 runs to win.
