England's managing director of men's cricket, Rob Key, has pledged to look into the squad's conduct with alcohol after their mid-Ashes break in Australia drew comparisons to a boozy stag party.
Noosa Trip Under Scrutiny After Ashes Defeat
The commitment comes in the wake of a dismal tour Down Under, where England lost the first three Tests inside just 11 days of play, surrendering the urn with two matches to spare. Amid the post-mortem, attention has turned to the team's scheduled trip to the coastal resort of Noosa between the second and third Tests.
While the getaway was a planned part of the itinerary to help players unwind, media coverage highlighted the time some individuals spent in bars. Photographers and TV crews captured the squad's movements, with some reports suggesting the scene was more akin to a 'stag do' than a professional sports team's recovery session.
Key's Stance on Alcohol and Team Culture
Rob Key, who was not present in Noosa, stated he had no issue with the concept of the break but made his position on excessive drinking abundantly clear. "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.
He emphasised that "drinking excessive amounts of alcohol for an international cricket team is not something that I'd expect to see at any stage." However, based on initial inquiries, he suggested the players had been "very well behaved," reportedly dining in, not staying out late, and having only the occasional drink.
"I'm not a drinker, I think a drinking culture doesn't help anyone in any stretch whatsoever," Key added, drawing a firm line. "If it goes into where they're drinking lots and it's a stag do, all of that type of stuff, that's completely unacceptable."
Previous Incident in New Zealand
Key also referenced a prior incident involving alcohol that occurred shortly before the Ashes tour. He confirmed he had investigated social media footage appearing to show white-ball captain Harry Brook and batter Jacob Bethell out in Wellington the night before a one-day international against New Zealand on November 1.
While he deemed the matter not serious enough for formal disciplinary action, Key indicated it served as an informal warning. "I think that was a bit of a wake-up call," he remarked, reiterating his personal tolerance level. "I don't mind players having a glass of wine over dinner. Anything more than that, I think is ridiculous, really."
The ECB managing director now faces the broader task of reviewing the team's environment and performance after a chastening Ashes defeat, with player conduct and professionalism firmly in the spotlight.
