The English cricket team is set to investigate reports of excessive drinking by players during a break from the Ashes series in the beach town of Noosa. The team spent four nights on the Queensland coast between the second and third Tests, and several outlets, including the BBC, reported that some players were drinking for a significant portion of their time in Noosa, as well as on two previous days in Brisbane.
England director of cricket Rob Key has stated that the team will be looking into the reports to separate fact from fiction. Key expressed his concern over the potential drinking culture within the team, stating that "Stories of players drinking six days solid - that's unacceptable". He also emphasized that "If it's true that it became a stag do and people are out drinking all the time excessively, that's not acceptable. I don't agree with a drinking culture. I don't like a drinking culture".
The break in Noosa was arranged in advance of the Ashes tour and went ahead despite England falling 2-0 behind after two Tests. The entire squad was present in Noosa, and players were told to expect media attention. TV cameras and photographers captured shots of some members of the squad drinking at an outside table of a bar on the main high street in the town.
When you see a picture of five or six guys sitting down for lunch, a couple of them having drinks, you need to see what's going on with that. - Rob Key
Key also revealed that he previously looked into reports that white-ball captain Harry Brook and batter Jacob Bethell were drinking the night before a match on the limited-overs tour of New Zealand that preceded the Ashes. A clip of Brook and Bethell was shared on social media, reportedly taken in Wellington the night before the third one-day international on 1 November.
Key stated that "I didn't feel like that was worthy of formal warnings, but it was probably worthy of informal ones". He also emphasized that "There wasn't any formal action. We've had four years where we've had none of these issues really, with any of the players, and there's a whole process that we put in place for stuff like that - for what you do if they're out of line".
Despite the questions over the behaviour of some players in Noosa, Key defended their right to take the break from the Ashes. He stated that players like Brook, Bethell, Ben Duckett, Jofra Archer, and others could spend almost six months away from home following the tours of New Zealand, Australia, and the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in the new year.
Key emphasized that "Harry Brook is going to only be at home for six days this entire winter". He also stated that "We have to create a time where these players can get away from cricket because they're not going to do it by being at home. We live in an age as well where it's impossible to avoid cricket. I sit there on my phone and every Instagram thing comes up. I know that players say they shouldn't look at it, but they do".
The home side, Australia, has taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in only 11 days of cricket, meaning England cannot win back the Ashes. The English team's performance in the third Test in Adelaide was improved, but they were still beaten.
The investigation into the reports of excessive drinking by English players is ongoing, and it remains to be seen what consequences will arise from the findings. One thing is certain, however, and that is that the English team's performance in the Ashes has been disappointing, and changes may be needed to improve their chances in future tournaments.
Original: BBC Sport
Image: BBC Sport
Written by Npsports
