England cricket stars have reportedly been told to stop talking about golf ahead of their Test with Zimbabwe later this month. Brendon McCullum's side are preparing to host the Zimbabwe team in a four-day encounter at Trent Bridge.

The England selectors confirmed their squad for the Test at the start of the month, with Sam Cook included following his impressive displays for Essex in the County Championship. Chris Woakes, meanwhile, has missed out following an ankle injury. The Test will begin on May 22 and will conclude on May 25 in Nottingham.

During the white-ball tour of India earlier this year, England players were hit with accusations that they don’t train hard enough and that some of them are too focused on playing golf.

And, according to the Daily Mail, ECB bosses have told the players to stop talking about golf in the build-up to the Test, and managing director Rob Key has reportedly even demanded that players refrain from posting about golf on social media.

Key is said to be concerned that the hard work going on behind the scenes is in danger of being overlooked.

Former England batter Kevin Pietersen took aim at England players after they had lost all three of their one day internationals against India at the start of the year, with the team also losing four of their five Twenty20 internationals against the same country.

Pietersen told The Telegraph: “That was absolutely disgraceful that England did not train once between the first one-dayer and the last one-dayer - absolutely disgraceful.”

And discussing the mentality of players at Delhi Capitals, where he works as a mentor, the 44-year-old added: “Guys don’t go and play golf every day and go and wing it - absolutely not, absolutely not. These guys are so meticulous in their preparation. They’re like surgeons. They really are super impressive.”

But England pace bowler Mark Wood hit back during an interview with the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast at the end of April as he explained: “One thing that does bother me is this narrative of 'Golf, golf, golf'.

“I don't play golf. I don't like it. It's not a game for me. I know the lads enjoy it and that's their time off. At times it's as if the golf is more important, and that is not true at all.

“I cannot stress enough that when we're at training, especially under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, we train hard.

“The lads don't take it for granted that we play for England. This narrative of ‘Oh, well, we'll play golf, this is the best gig in the world’, I can understand people's frustration with it, but I'm telling you, people genuinely care and work hard.”