England will investigate reports that members of its Ashes squad drank excessively during a mid-series break in the Queensland beach town of Noosa, following widespread media coverage of the incident.
The England squad spent four nights on the Sunshine Coast between the second and third Tests of the Ashes series. The break had been planned well in advance of the tour and went ahead despite England falling 2-0 behind Australia.
Several outlets, including the BBC, reported that some players were drinking for extended periods during their stay in Noosa. Reports also claimed similar behaviour occurred during two previous days in Brisbane, which hosted the second Test.
Images circulated showing players seated at outdoor tables at a bar on Noosa’s main street. The photographs, taken by television cameras and photographers, showed some squad members drinking during what was described as a lunch gathering.
England director of cricket Rob Key said the situation would be examined carefully to establish what actually occurred. Speaking to BBC Sport, Key warned that headlines and reports could be misleading and exaggerated.
“Stories of players drinking six days solid – that’s unacceptable,” Key said. “We’ll be looking into seeing what the facts are as opposed to the things that have been embellished or elaborated on.”
Key rejected suggestions that the break resembled a “stag do”, stressing that context was important when judging images and reports. He added that he does not support a drinking culture within professional sport.
“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,” he said. “If it’s true that people are out drinking all the time excessively, that’s not acceptable.”
The entire England squad travelled to Noosa and had been warned in advance to expect media attention. Key himself was in another part of Queensland at the time of the break.
Despite the controversy, England produced an improved performance in the third Test in Adelaide. However, they were still beaten by Australia, confirming that they cannot regain the Ashes during this tour.
Australia’s victory ensured the hosts took an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series after just 11 days of cricket, underlining England’s struggles on the field.
The England and Wales Cricket Board has not yet announced any formal disciplinary action. Any potential response is expected to depend on the findings of the internal review and whether the reports are substantiated.
The episode has renewed debate around player conduct, professionalism, and downtime during high-profile international tours. England’s management now faces the task of balancing player welfare with maintaining standards as the Ashes series continues.
