The media can be a harsh animal when it comes to athletes. They won't hold back and will only stop when they get what they want. If I'm not mistaken, they will go as far to get to face-to-face with the person. Things can get ugly very fast if the respective athlete/s retaliate.
Evidence for this point will come from Down Under and Brisbane/Adelaide. There were heated confrontations between the English squad and the Aussie media.
England’s embattled Ashes campaign took another dramatic turn off the field as members of the team’s security staff clashed with Australian media during transit, escalating tensions ahead of a crucial third Test in Adelaide. The incidents, which unfolded at both Brisbane and Adelaide airports, have sparked a broader conversation about media access, team privacy and the mounting pressure on the English squad trailing 2-0 in the series.
The first confrontation occurred at Brisbane airport where a Channel 7 camera operator attempted to film England players returning from a mid-series break in Noosa. Video footage captured the moment a security guard, identified as Colin Rhooms, physically intervened and was heard telling the cameraman, "Get out of my face, mate," before pushing him away.
Channel 7 responded strongly to the incident. "While conducting routine filming in a public space, the camera operator was physically confronted despite acting respectfully and professionally. The safety and wellbeing of our staff is paramount. This matter is being taken seriously and is now being managed through the appropriate channels," the broadcaster said in a statement.
The media altercations didn’t stop there. Upon the team’s arrival in Adelaide, another journalist attempted to replicate the stunt and was met with visible frustration from captain, Ben Stokes and managing director, Rob Key. Security again stepped in to shield players from unsolicited media approaches at the baggage carousel, where they were reportedly met by, "eight to ten camera crews."
The growing friction between the media and England’s entourage highlights the pressure-cooker environment of the Ashes and the struggle to maintain boundaries during high-profile tours. Cricket Australia, anticipating such flashpoints, had issued a clear directive regarding media conduct during the series. In their briefing documents, CA stated:
"The Australian and England teams will not be available for interview while in transit between matches during the NRMA Ashes series. All airport, hotel and transit is vision only, to be captured from a respectful distance."
Footage suggests that Channel 7’s crew had adhered to these protocols, filming respectfully from a distance. While England declined to comment publicly, the incident was reportedly seen as an unnecessary and avoidable disruption, especially given the previously cordial relationship between the team and the media during their mid-tour break in Noosa.
Australian media outlet, 7NEWS, posted a video on their social media channels on Saturday, which showed England's security staff in close proximity to their camera crew. One of the members on the team put a palm up in front of the camera, seemingly to block any view of the English cricketers.
"It's supposed to be a run-of-the-mill exercise, [cameraman] Nick [Carrigan] well within his rights to be filming, and he respects the unwritten rule of not getting too close," went the voiceover from the video."
Midway through, the security member in question can be heard asking Carrigan to "get outta my face, mate. You're in my face, that's what you're doing. Don't be clever with me." "They [the England team] were friendly with us, and this didn't happen up there [in Noosa], so it was quite a shock when it happened. I understand he's got a job to do, but yeah, that was totally uncalled for," Carrigan said after the incident.
As reported by the BBC, 7NEWS put out the following statement: "There was an incident at Brisbane Airport involving a 7NEWS camera operator and a member of the England cricket team's travelling party.
"While conducting routine filming in a public space, the camera operator was physically confronted despite acting respectfully and professionally. The safety and wellbeing of our staff is paramount. This matter is being taken seriously and is now being managed through the appropriate channels."
Channel 7 described the exchange as 'aggressive', while images published by CODE Sports appear to show the security official standing back as the cameraman continued filming.
The ECB chose not to comment on the incident, which sections of the Australian media have nonetheless seized upon as another setback in what has been portrayed as a difficult tour for England.
The episode occurs at a delicate moment for Ben Stokes' team, which is trailing 0-2 in the five-match series and facing increasing scrutiny over their readiness. With three Tests left, England are under pressure to prevent losing the Ashes before the upcoming high-profile matches in Melbourne and Sydney.
Questions about the team's preparation have been recurring throughout England's tour. The decision not to field senior players in a pink-ball warm-up match against a Prime Minister's XI in Canberra drew criticism, leading to extra training sessions in Brisbane. Yet, after experiencing a second heavy defeat in a row, head coach Brendon McCullum implied that the team might have been "over-prepared," a comment that sparked further debate.
Although the Noosa break was scheduled in advance and justified as a chance for players to reset, images of the squad playing football on the beach did little to reassure critics, who argue that England have struggled to find the right balance during this tour.
The camera crew were shadowing the England team during their mid-Ashes tour getaway in Noosa, a popular holiday destination. They departed from Brisbane on Saturday, travelling to Adelaide for the third Test.
Despite the clashes, the England camp has largely maintained composure throughout the tour, even when under a glaring spotlight. During their time in Noosa, players were approached frequently in public spaces but responded in good humour, posing for selfies and allowing media coverage of casual moments like beach games and golf rounds.
England are currently 0-2 down in the series, with chances of a comeback appearing bleak.
I don't blame England for what they did. I would feel extremely uncomfortable if someone was that close to me. Being pictured or filmed from afar would be fine for me. At this critical time, I doubt the English were in the mood for that kind of treatment. Their sole focus should be on the upcoming Test and not accommodating to the media. They did that already while at Noosa.