Jonny Bairstow: England wicketkeeper spoken to by ECB over Perth 'incident'

Cameron Bancroft played in front of wicketkeeper Bairstow on Sunday as he made an unbeaten 51 to push Australia towards victory

The England and Wales Cricket Board says it has spoken to England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow after claims about an alleged incident involving Australia's Cameron Bancroft.

Reports in Australia suggested Bairstow headbutted batsman Bancroft on a night out in Perth four weeks ago.

The ECB said there was no report of any incident from the venue, security or police and no injury reported.

It will "follow up" with players after the conclusion of the first Ashes Test.

Cricket Australia told the BBC it was aware of the incident, adding that it was a matter for the ECB and not Australian cricket's governing body.

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In a statement issued on Sunday, the ECB said: "Following an initial conversation with Jonny Bairstow tonight, we understand the context and will follow up with England players and management after the Brisbane Test."

The BBC's cricket correspondent Jonathan Agnew said: "I understand from the camp that Bairstow and Bancroft were having a drink together. Their heads met. They carried on drinking together.

"More ammo for accusations of a drink culture, but this will not help relations between the teams."

Cameron Bancroft (left) is making his Test debut while Jonny Bairstow (right) is competing in his 46th match

Bairstow, 28, and 25-year-old debutant Bancroft have both been involved in the opening Ashes Test in Brisbane, which Australia are set to win on Monday.

The hosts need just 56 runs on the final day at the Gabba to go 1-0 up in the five-Test series.

The reports follow the incident involving key England player Ben Stokes, who did not travel with the squad because he is awaiting the outcome of a police investigation into his involvement in a fight outside a Bristol nightclub on 25 September.

Yorkshire's Bairstow has played in 45 Test matches after making his debut in May 2012. He averages 39.77 with the bat and has taken 119 catches.

He was one of three players who were fined by the ECB last month and accepted formal written warnings for "unprofessional conduct" - unrelated to the Stokes investigation.