On Saturday, a member of England’s security crew was involved in a confrontation with a Channel Seven camera operator at Brisbane Airport, adding another off-field scandal to the problematic Ashes 2025-26 tour. The incident occurred when England was leaving for Adelaide ahead of the third Test.
The altercation occurred as England’s touring squad checked in for their flight during a mid-series break in Noosa.
Channel Seven aired footage of the security officer violently shoving the camera away and repeatedly tried to prevent filming as the broadcaster sought routine footage of the players in a public location. Notably, England is down 2-0 in the Ashes after losses in Perth and Brisbane, making the third Test at Adelaide Oval a must-win to keep the series alive.
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There’s been drama at Brisbane Airport as the England cricket team left Queensland. A security guard lashed out at a camera operator. #Cricket #Ashes #BrisbaneAirport #Drama #Queensland pic.twitter.com/QDXyUuC9Gr
— 7NEWS Queensland (@7NewsBrisbane) December 13, 2025
Channel 7 release statement regarding the incident
Meanwhile, Cricket Australia’s media protocols for the Ashes clearly state that teams are not available for interviews while in transit and that airport coverage should be vision only from a respectful distance. Channel Seven later confirmed that its camera operator was left shocked by the incident, describing the encounter as unnecessary given the circumstances.
In a statement, the network said the operator was conducting routine filming in a public area and was acting professionally when he was physically confronted. The matter, Seven said, was being taken seriously and handled through appropriate channels.
Since arriving in Australia, Ben Stokes and his players have largely taken scrutiny in their stride. They were filmed playing golf before the opening Test, laughed off drone footage, and reacted calmly to criticism after being photographed riding e-scooters without helmets in Brisbane.
During the Noosa break, players were approached by media at beaches and bars, with Stokes even posing for photographs. Unofficially, England has encouraged their security staff to operate with a light touch, especially given the number of fans requesting selfies during the tour.
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