'Essentially a PR move': England reportedly set to snub Aussie handshakes in Ashes opener
A ball is yet to be bowled in what is sure to be a hotly-contested Ashes series, and the fireworks seem to have already started between the two sides.
According to a Guardian report, England captain Joe Root and coach Trevor Bayliss were understood to be "frustrated" at the inclusion of Tim Paine's pre-match handshake ceremony in the official running order of match day operations.
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In a meeting with ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle ahead of the Ashes opener at Edgbaston on Thursday, Root and Bayliss said they were not formally notified of the handshake ceremony.
"Root, while not looking to stoke up ill-feeling between the teams, is said to be less than convinced of the necessity for what is essentially a PR move, not least since it does not take place before any other Test series," the report read.
Root was more than happy to share a handshake with Paine as the pair took promotional shots prior to the series opener AAP
"It now remains to be seen whether the England captain reluctantly complies and the handshakes take place before play."
The pre-game gesture has become a staple of the team's culture under captain Tim Paine, something that needed to be improved after the Cape Town debacle last year.
Starting from the final Test of that South Africa series, Australia's players have shook hands with the opposition in each Test and limited overs fixture.
Despite holding the urn heading into the previous Ashes series on Australian shores in 2017, the Englishmen were ambushed by an aggressive side under Steve Smith's leadership.
Joe Root and Tim Paine with the Ashes urn. PA/AAP
While the memories of the 4-0 defeat remain fresh in Root's mind, he admitted that he wasn't bothered by how Paine's men will act on the field once the proceedings get underway.
"We'll see how that unfolds in the course of the series," he said.
"To be honest, their behaviour doesn't really concern me. The thing that concerns me is that we go about things in our own way.
"It's really important we look after that and don't get too wrapped up in how they play their cricket."
The action will get underway at 7.30pm AEST on Thursday night, and you can watch every ball live and free on Nine.
