Bob Willis: Share a beer? Botham hosted a barbie for Aussies on rest day in 81!

The Australians decided they do not want to share a beer until after the series and I have some sympathy with their position, although when I was playing it was pretty pally off the field — especially on tours of Australia.

In 1970-71 Down Under, I seem to remember the players went into each other's dressing rooms virtually every evening. The batting side would go into the fielding side's rooms, which was something encouraged by Ian Chappell, who succeeded Bill Lawry as captain during that series.

My outstanding memory of that series was after we walked off at Sydney, having won the Test and with it the Ashes, and Rod Marsh and Doug Walters were already in our dressing rooms with open beers for us. On the 1974-75 tour we got a good hiding but I became great mates with fast bowlers Jeff Thomson and Dennis Lillee.

During the famous 1981 Test at Headingley, there was a rest day and both teams headed to Ian Botham's place for a barbecue. The Australians turned up in their team coach.

Why it seems to have changed, I don't know. It would be nice to think it could be revived but I suppose in a more professional era, drinking during a Test match might be outlawed altogether.

Perhaps it changed in the 1989 series here, when Australia captain Allan Border turned into Mr Grumpy, instead of the "good-guy" image he had in 1985.