Aussie Cricket WAGs Get Ban So They Don't Distract Players At World Cup And Ashes

A group of player's wives and girlfriends is a normal sight at virtually any professional sporting. They're there supporting their partners, hoping they come through with a win and then everyone's happy.

But it seems like the higher ups at Cricket Australia want the lads to be fully focused as they compete in the World Cup and the upcoming Ashes tour.

So much so, that a decision has reportedly been made to ban the WAGs from the player's hotel rooms for most of the competition.

"Then you look at when it's important to be around your families.

"We can't go a whole World Cup and Ashes and not have families as a big part of it. That would be ridiculous over such a long period of time."

So they've decided to restrict contact until after the fourth match and any finals matches. Once the World Cup is over, they'll be able to enjoy each other as a normal family until the Ashes tests kick off.

Then they'll only get to see each other between the second and third Ashes tests but not the first, fourth and fifth ones.

The team will be hoping to win their first Ashes on English soil since 2001, so it's unsurprising that they're trying to keep everyone focused.

Australian cricket legend Ian Healy added: "Some of the most respected cricketers I played with hated that distraction.

"They weren't allowed on tour until after the series had been won.

"Your mind needs to be completely focused on it. Cricket is a sport that requires complete concentration."

This type of thing happens around the world before big competitions, with England's Football Association banning WAGs from travelling with their partners before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

The All Blacks banned WAGs from their hotel rooms during the Rugby World Cup in 2007. All Blacks manager Darren Shand said: "Every player is different in how they prepare.

"It's pretty common knowledge that most sporting teams at home do the best, so we try to create an environment like that when we are away. It's up to individuals to make the best decisions; we have to trust them."