England Defends Mid-Tour Noosa Break Amid Reports of Excessive Drinking During Ashes Series
Rob Key has defended England's mid-tour break in Noosa during the Ashes series, saying there is no issue with the trip itself but promising to investigate reports of excessive drinking by players. According to BBC reports, some players spent six days drinking following the defeat in Brisbane, effectively turning the stay into a prolonged social period.
At the time of the mid-tour break, England were 3-0 down to Australia, and a post-series review is expected to assess whether the four-night break on the Sunshine Coast adequately prepared England for the subsequent Adelaide Test. Key highlighted that multi-format players, such as Harry Brook who spent six days at home, and Jofra Archer, involved in the World Cup and IPL, need breaks but emphasized that excessive drinking is unacceptable.
England had trained in Australia at Perth, choosing this location over Adelaide after the hosts offered two options, though they did not have access to the Waca Ground as a training base. Key noted the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will determine the team's leadership direction going forward, expressing his support for Brendon McCullum as coach. He also mentioned this series marks the third Test series England have lost in four years.
In team news, Ollie Pope may miss the upcoming Boxing Day Test, and Ben Duckett's form might have been affected by the white-ball schedule during the recent matches in New Zealand.
