England's calamitous Ashes tour in Australia has been rocked by explosive new allegations, with claims that some players embarked on a six-day drinking session before the crucial third Test defeat in Adelaide that surrendered the series.
A 'Glorified Stag Do' Amid Series Collapse
According to a BBC report, the ill-fated break between the second Test in Brisbane and the third in Adelaide saw some members of the touring party treat the trip as a "glorified stag do". It is alleged they followed two days of drinking in Brisbane with a further four days in the beachside resort of Noosa on Queensland's Sunshine Coast.
This nine-day gap between matches had included a pre-planned team getaway to Noosa, a decision that baffled pundits and infuriated fans after England's heavy defeats in the first two Tests in Perth and Brisbane. At that point, just six days of cricket had been played in the entire series.
While captain Ben Stokes and senior batsman Joe Root were said to have focused on family time or fitness, others reportedly took a different path. Exclusive Daily Mail photographs showed players, including Harry Brook and fast bowler Brydon Carse, enjoying beers at the popular Rococo Bistro bar in Noosa.
A Catalogue of Tour Errors and Misjudgements
The alleged drinking spree, which the England team has been contacted about for comment, would form part of a long list of criticised decisions since the squad arrived in Australia.
The tour preparations were widely slammed as inadequate, beginning with the choice to play only one warm-up match on a slow Perth pitch against a weakened opposition. Legend Ian Botham said this approach "bordered on arrogance", a charge Stokes dismissed as coming from "has beens".
Further controversy followed when it was revealed the team turned down an invitation to play a pink-ball fixture against the Prime Minister's XI in Canberra before the day-night Test in Brisbane. Players were also criticised for playing golf ahead of the first Test, which Australia won in just two days.
Internal Excuses and a Swift Series Defeat
After the Brisbane loss, Stokes remarked that Australia was "no place for weak men", a comment some interpreted as criticism of his own teammates. Batting coach Marcus Trescothick then stunned observers by confessing the team had not discussed the dangers of 'driving on the up' in Australian conditions, a technical flaw that contributed to their batting collapses.
Head coach Brendon McCullum later offered a surprising explanation for the early failures, suggesting the team had "over prepared" and "trained too much" before the Gabba Test, arguing freshness was more crucial.
None of these justifications altered the outcome on the field. The relaxing break in Noosa failed to spark a revival, as England slumped to an 82-run defeat in Adelaide, losing the Ashes series after just 11 days of actual play. The body language of players like Will Jacks upon his dismissal in Adelaide seemed to encapsulate a tour that had spiralled out of control long before the final wicket fell.
