- By Vishal Pushkar
- Tue, 23 Dec 2025 02:26 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
England Cricket Team Players: It was no less than a nightmare for the England Cricket Team and fans as the hosts Australia retained the urn under 11 days by registering three Test wins on the trot. The current England setup, with coach Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, had a golden opportunity to put an injury-hit Australian side under pressure; however, the visitors failed to win the moments in between the games. Amidst severe criticism of Stokes and company, a report by the BBC (British Broadcasting Company) has placed a question mark on the commitment of the English players on the tour.
As per the report, some England players spent their days drinking heavily during the nine-day gap between the Brisbane and Adelaide Test. Notably, the second Test at the Gabba concluded on December 7, as some players spent two days drinking alcohol in Brisbane and then four more days at the Noosa beach resort in Queensland, Australia. The report also claimed that the team management wanted to help the players 'cool off the steam' with this break ahead of the Adelaide Test.
However, the break was of no help as England lost the Adelaide Test by 82 runs.
England's managing director of men's cricket, Rob Key, says he will investigate the drinking habits of the England team following reports that their mid-Ashes beach resort break may have involved over-indulging in alcohol.
"If there's things where people are saying that our players went out and drank excessively then of course we'll be looking into that," Key said, following England's defeat in Adelaide.
"I'm not a drinker. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol for an international cricket team is not something that I'd expect to see at any stage," he added.
Key made it clear that there was no episode of players indulging in heavy drinking as per the information available to him.
"We've added security. We've got enough ways of finding out exactly what happened. And everything that I've heard so far is that they sat down, had lunch, had dinner and didn't go out late and had the odd drink. I don't mind that," Key said.
Also Read: Ben Stokes Reacts After England Lose Ashes To Australia, Says, 'It Sucks...'
"If it goes into where they're drinking lots and it's a stag do, that's completely unacceptable. I think a drinking culture doesn't help anyone in any stretch whatsoever. (But) I have no issue with Noosa if it was to get away and just throw your phone away, down tools, go on the beach, all of that stuff," he added.
England will seek to turn the tables when they meet Australia in the fourth test at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, starting on 26 December.
Inputs from Agency