ENGLAND’S mid-tour break in Noosa earlier this month has been described “a glorified stag do.”
A BBC reporter claimed several players drank for four straight days – following two more days of boozing in Brisbane after the Second Test defeat.
An early-morning run suggested by fitness coach Peter Sim was attended by just three players – Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue and Shoaib Bashir.
Only wicketkeeper Smith had played a Test at that stage.
And, when captain Ben Stokes invited team-mates to join him on another pre-breakfast jog, none turned up.
The trip to the coastal resort of Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast was planned a year ago.
It was meant to fill the lengthy gap between the Second and Third Tests and give players a chance to relax and recharge batteries.
But, with England already 2-0 down in the Ashes series, the four-day holiday was bound to create controversy and attract attention.
A BBC story, written by a reporter who was in Noosa, said: “For others, it was a glorified stag do. Some members of the team followed two days of drinking in Brisbane with four more in Noosa.
“Six in total, as many days as there had been of Test cricket at this point in the tour.
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“The England party was hardly inconspicuous, drinking by the side of the road, with plenty wearing traditional Akubra hats that became the uniform of the holiday.”
Pictures emerged of staff delivering glasses of lager to the players’ table at Rococo Bistro on Hastings Street, the main drag in Noosa.
Some players also fitted in a round of golf at the exclusive Maroochy River club.
Another reporter on the spot confirmed: “Noosa was less ‘mid-tour break’ more ‘stag do.’ You can have too much of a good thing and it is certainly hard to imagine a knees-up like this happening in the midst of any other major sporting event.”
Joe Root was one player who stayed away from the drinking party. He was joined by his family and had accommodation away from the busy main drag.
But even Root was obliged to turn up when a three-line whip was issued for a game on the beach of ‘Pig’ – a keepy-uppy football game that England’s cricketers regularly play.
Stokes and his team were friendly and chatty with locals and fans and posed for dozens of selfies.
Stokes even posed on the beach with a couple of mickey-taking local DJs, who were holding placards proclaiming ‘For sale moral victories’ and ‘Bazballers anonymous free counselling.’
Players did not play or practice any cricket during the trip and vice-captain Harry Brook said they had a “belting” time.
The trip passed off without incident until security guard Colin Rhooms had a bust-up with a TV cameraman at Brisbane Airport as they prepared to fly to Adelaide for the Third Test.
England have been criticised for their lack of pre-series preparation, which involved an in-house knockout against the England Lions on a featherbed pitch at Lilac Hill.
Head coach Brendon McCullum, a regular visitor to Noosa with his Australian wife, finally admitted after England went 3-0 down in the series that he might have got the preparation wrong.
The Fourth Test begins in Melbourne on Boxing Day (11.30pm on Christmas Day in the UK).
