The English cricket family has been under significant pressure. This follows another incident of the alleged sexual assault that happened in May at The Boundary pub in Fulham, which is co-owned by England coach Brendon McCullum and former T20 captain Jos Buttler. Those allegations have sent shockwaves through Australian cricket with the Ashes campaign fast approaching. Yet it’s important to stress that McCullum has not been charged with any crime and was not even in London at the time of the alleged incident.
On the day of the rape in question, England were playing Zimbabwe in a Test match at Trent Bridge in Nottingham. This meant McCullum should have been focused on his coaching responsibilities for the team. The pub, which features other well-known cricket figures among its shareholders—including Eoin Morgan, Sam Billings, Graeme Smith, and Paul Stirling—has become a focal point for investigations into the matter.
According to the police report, these two women were possibly spiked while at The Boundary pub. We know that at least one of these women experienced a sexual assault. As part of the investigation, a man in his 40s was arrested on suspicion of murder on June 5 and interviewed under caution.
“Two women are believed to have been spiked with one also allegedly sexually assaulted.” – police
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has confirmed that it knew of the police investigation into this incident. The cricket world is understandably excited about the upcoming Ashes down in Australia. With the series due to open with a Test match at Optus Stadium in Perth from November 21-25, the timing of this investigation is a huge concern for players and fans alike.
Though serious, the allegations would appear to leave McCullum’s role limited. He’s mainly a co-owner of The Boundary public house and the manager of the England football team. Other news reports have confirmed that he is not a suspect in this particular case.
Jamie George, another star of England rugby, joining McCullum and Buttler in this reality, emphasizes its high-profile nature. Their participation lays bare the momentousness of this time. As the investigations continue, the public remains on the lookout for breaking news. At the same time, the cricketing community should be looking as developments around The Boundary pub will affect those associated with it.
