An investigation has been launched and Surrey are likely to ask for an apology from the ECB for the incident which happened just before midnight on Sunday as the players celebrated their Ashes success.
The incident came to light because journalists from Australia were still working at the ground. It was reported in the Australian media that Kevin Pietersen, Stuart Broad and James Anderson urinated on the pitch while being cheered by team-mates.
Richard Gould, the Surrey chief executive, has described the behaviour as irresponsible and is in talks with the ECB. While players are expected to celebrate victory, it threatens to take the shine off England’s achievement in winning three successive Ashes series.
“We are very disappointed,” said Gould. “Nobody wants to put the mockers on any England celebration but that will be viewed by many people and by us as an irresponsible thing to have done.
"Knockabout stuff is one thing. But it is a very silly thing to do on a pitch at the Oval where there is so much heritage and history.
“I have spoken to the ECB let them know what we are aware of we will let them investigate further from within. We will see what they come back to us with.”
Shane Warne, the Telegraph Sport columnist, said: “When you play in a six to eight-week series of intense Ashes cricket you should always have a chance to let your hair down at the end.
“Unfortunately the way people are judged these days it’s best to celebrate within the confines of the dressing room.
“Stay in there as long as you like, get as drunk as you like if that is what you want to do and enjoy your team-mates and the moment.
“But to go and disrespect something as ancient as the Oval pitch in such an unnecessary and crass way is a pretty ordinary and arrogant thing to do, I wonder also if the opposition was mentioned too?
Hugh Robertson, the sports minister, urged the ECB to investigate the incident, saying: “If it happened, it’s not good behaviour.”
It is unlikely the players will face any action from the ECB other than a quiet word from the management.
Andy Flower, the England team director, refused to answer questions about the incident on Monday, asking: “Can we talk about the Test series win rather than a ridiculous topic like that?”
It is clear the management hope the issue will go away rather than reflect badly on a team who have won their third successive Ashes series.
“I noticed a significant change in their attitude in the last two Tests and the way they conducted themselves off the pitch,” said Warne.
“I thought they were very humble when they won the Ashes, but emotional and excited too. They celebrated with the fans, enjoyed each other, had their children with them, it was a very special time for the England players.
“It’s a real shame they let themselves down so badly and I’m sure it will have some big ramifications from the ECB.”
In 2005 the England players famously celebrated winning the Ashes against the great Australian side with a mammoth drinking session after the match which culminated in a reception at Downing Street with Tony Blair where it later emerged one of the players urinated in the Prime Minister’s garden.
In 2009 the ECB and Flower were very careful there was not a repeat. The players celebrated victory quietly before heading to Ireland for a 50-over match.
