(adds names, details)
By Mark Meadows
GROS ISLET, St Lucia, March 17 - A number of
England players have been fined for a breach of discipline on
Friday evening following their World Cup defeat to New Zealand,
a team statement said on Saturday.
The statement gave no further details but witnesses said
several players had been at the Rumours nightclub until the
early hours of the morning.
The witnesses, who spoke to Reuters, said the players seen
were James Anderson, Ian Bell, Jon Lewis and Liam Plunkett.
Other players were spotted there, the witnesses said, but
left earlier.
EARLY ELIMINATION
England lost their first World Cup Group C match to New
Zealand by six wickets and must win their next two or face early
elimination.
"The England team management today announced that a number
of England players have been fined by head coach Duncan Fletcher
after admitting a breach of team discipline last night," the
statement read.
"The decision followed a team meeting at noon today which
was attended by players and management."
England's base in St Lucia for the group matches is the
plush St Lucian hotel in Rodney Bay. The island's main tourist
road, filled with bars and clubs including Rumours, is just
outside the hotel.
England announced just after Friday's defeat to New Zealand
that Saturday's net session had been cancelled.
Coach Fletcher said earlier on Saturday that the team had
been given the day off because of the tough training sessions so
far on tour and to keep them out of the sun.
England face Canada in their second Group C game on Sunday.
The seven-week World Cup culminates in the final on April 28
in Barbados.