GLOUCESTERSHIRE’S Cameron Bancroft has recalled the incident where he was headbutted by England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow late at night which has sparked major controversy following Australia’s first Ashes Test victory in Brisbane.

Bairstow's behaviour in a Perth bar left coach England head coach Trevor Bayliss struggling to contain his exasperation at the "dumb decisions" England players continue to make.

England's 10-wicket defeat in the first Test was completed on Monday with Bancroft hitting the winning runs for Australia.

And Bairstow explained his behaviour after the match on October 29 but said the incident had been ‘blown out of proportion’.

The matter bizarrely came to light only when Australia were picked up on the Brisbane stump microphone reminding Yorkshireman Bairstow of his behaviour in Perth.

The post-match media briefings were dominated by Bairstow's apparently playful 'headbutt' on the Gloucestershire opener on the opening night of the tour in Perth Bancroft said: "I remember it very clearly. We'd just won a Shield game for WA (Western Australia). One of our values is celebrating success, so we were, as a team.

“That coincided with the English team arriving in Perth for the tour game. It was very friendly mingling the whole night. Some of the players knew some of the English players, and as the night progressed it was great to be able to meet some of those guys.

"I got into a very amicable conversation with Jonny, and, he just greeted me with a headbutt kind of thing.

“I was expecting a handshake. It wasn't the greeting of choice that I was expecting. That was the way I took it. There was certainly no malice in his action, and we continued on having a very good conversation for the rest of the evening.

"At the time, he said sorry. For me personally, it was just really weird. It was so random, and I certainly didn't expect it coming.

“As I said, a handshake or a hug would have been something that I probably expected more than a headbutt.

“But as I said, there was certainly nothing malicious about his action. I just took it as: 'Yeah, I don't know Jonny Bairstow, but he says hello to people very differently to most others'.

“We got along for the rest of the night quite well. I've let it go and moved on from it. It was fine.

“He didn't knock me over. I've actually got the heaviest head in the Western Australia squad. It's been measured. There's an actual measurement for it.

“So, I just took the blow quite well and moved on from it. He connected with my head. With a force that would make me think: 'Wow, that's a bit weird.' And that was it."

Bairstow issued a statement after the match in which he provided his account of the evening.

Bairstow said, in the statement: "First of all, personally, I think it has been blown completely out of proportion. That evening, we were allowed out. There wasn't any curfew.

"I caught up with one of my friends and some of the Western Australia guys after they'd just beaten Tasmania at the WACA.

"We were just in the bar, having a good laugh and a good evening out. It was very enjoyable.

"Cameron and I enjoyed the evening and continued to do so. There was no intent, nor malice, about anything during the evening.

"As you could see, out there (on the pitch), there is no animosity between myself, Cameron (or) any of the other Australian players.

"I hope we can now swipe this underneath the table, continue what is going to be a fantastic and exciting series - and we move on from there.”

Bayliss began the trip Down Under by insisting he would still treat his players like adults in the wake of all-rounder Ben Stokes' arrest on suspicion of causing actual bodily harm in a late-night fracas in Bristol over the summer, an incident which has made the Durham man unavailable for the tour.

Asked if he thought Stokes' experiences might have prompted the players to be more careful, Bayliss said: "That was what I thought after Bristol as well. They'd be extra dumb and stupid if it didn't.

"That's the disappointing thing - we make dumb decisions ... if you put yourself in that situation you are fair game."

Bayliss believes nonetheless, like Bairstow, that the latest incident is being given more attention than it deserves.

"I think there was some contact, but obviously not a headbutt. There's a big difference. (It's) blown out of proportion ... (but it) gives the opposition ammunition to put pressure on as well.

"That night there was no curfew, and there was absolutely no malice in it. (But) we can't put ourselves in these situations, however small they are."

Joe Root's team will be collectively reminded of their responsibilities by England and Wales Cricket Board director Andrew Strauss, and Bayliss has hinted players may yet be advised not to drink on nights out.

"Most people like going out at night (for a) couple of quiet (drinks), but you've got to be careful you don't do anything stupid," he said.

"If that means not having anything to drink, then so be it."