ECB managing director Rob Key has launched an investigation into allegations of the touring team drinking for six days straight during their Noosa break before the second Test in Brisbane.
And team management are now also dealing with footage of opener Ben Duckett which has been circulated on social media which appears to have been taken before the third Test in which he appears heavily inebriated, slurring his words and unable to find his way back to the team base.
The ECB issued a statement to say: “We are aware of content circulating on social media.
“We have high expectations for behaviour, accepting that players are often under intense levels of scrutiny, with established processes that we follow when conduct falls below expectations. We also support players that need assistance.
“We will not comment further at this stage while we establish the facts.”
A bystander jokingly asks Duckett “do you want me to get you an Uber to the nets, probably for the best”.
Key also threw his support behind Brendon McCullum, describing him as “a bloody good coach” despite calls for his sacking from fans, media and former captain Geoffrey Boycott in the wake of the 3-0 Ashes series capitulation.
The team’s controversial decision to spend time on the Sunshine Coast after their first Test loss inside two days has been a bone of contention with McCullum then claiming they had been “over-prepared” following a series of intensive training sessions before the Gabba game, which they also lost by eight wickets.
English media reports have described the Noosa trip as a glorified “stag do” where “some – certainly not all – players drank for five or six days”.
“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 on Tuesday before the Duckett footage was aired on social media.
“Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol for an international cricket team is not something that I’d expect to see at any stage, and it would be a fault not to look into what happened there. But from everything that I’ve heard so far, they were very well behaved.
“I’ve read what’s been written in the last day or so, and if it goes into where they’re drinking lots and it’s a stag do, all that type of stuff, that’s completely unacceptable. I’m not a drinker. I think a drinking culture doesn’t help anyone in any stretch whatsoever.
“I have no issue with the Noosa trip if it was to get away and just throw your phone away, down tools, go on the beach. Everything that I’ve heard so far is that they sat down, had lunch, had dinner, didn’t go out late, had the odd drink.
“I don’t mind that. If it goes past that, then that’s an issue as far as I’m concerned.”
Key revealed that vice-captain Harry Brook and young batter Jacob Bethell had been warned about being caught drinking the night before their final ODI against New Zealand in Wellington before they arrived in Australia.
“I don’t mind players having a glass of wine over dinner. Anything more than that I think is ridiculous, really,” Key said. “There wasn’t any formal action… I didn’t feel like that was worthy of formal warnings, but it was probably worthy of informal ones.”
Key added that Bethell is “an incredibble talent” who looks set to slot into the batting order for the MCG match ahead of struggling No.3 Ollie Pope.
McCullum is under fire following the team’s tactics and selections backfiring but Key said the ECB would examine all aspects of the tour after the series is over.
England’s captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)
“The decision really for the ECB will be whether or not they want to rip it up and start again or whether they want to evolve and whether we’re the right people to do that,” he said.
“He’s an excellent coach. His record is very good. This is only the third series we’ve lost in four years. His win record is very good as well – [25 wins from 44].
“Clearly, we’ve mucked up on the big occasions, whether that was the home Ashes series, whether that was last summer against India. The big ones have eluded us.
“There’s been some brilliant moments along the way. I still feel like there’s plenty of life in this whole thing now, but we have to evolve. We have to make sure that we’re doing things better.”
He also defended the decision not to plan a first-class warm-up game before the series.
“I don’t necessarily believe that had we just gone and played there then we’d now be 3-0 up in the Ashes,” he said.
“You’ve got to look at yourselves as a set-up. If your players are playing to their potential and they’re getting beat, that’s fine. But in this series so far, we haven’t done that.”
The Roarhttps://www.theroar.com.au/2025/12/24/uber-to-the-nets-england-face-more-claims-of-boozy-culture-on-tour-as-chief-launches-investigation/‘Uber to the nets’: England face more claims of boozy culture on tour as chief launches investigation
Post a Comment