England's managing director of men's cricket, Rob Key, has stated he will look into allegations that some players engaged in excessive drinking during a mid-series break in Noosa, but maintains he has "no issue" with the concept of the trip itself.
Investigation into 'Stag Do' Allegations
Following reports that the four-night stay on Queensland's Sunshine Coast descended into a "glorified stag do" with claims some players spent six days drinking, Key confirmed the matter would be examined. The break occurred after England's defeat in the second Test in Brisbane, which left them 3-0 down in the Ashes series.
"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. "I'm not a drinker. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol for an international cricket team is not something that I'd expect to see at any stage."
Defending the Need for a Break
Despite the controversy, Key strongly defended the decision to grant the players time off between the second and third Tests. He pointed to the immense physical and mental demands of the modern schedule, highlighting that players like Harry Brook would spend only six days at home all winter.
"I think it's so important that these players, especially multi-format players, can get away and live a normal life," Key explained. "[But] if it goes into where they're drinking lots and it's a stag do, that's completely unacceptable." He added that a positive break involved "getting away and just throw your phone away, down tools, go on the beach."
Reviewing Performance and Future
Key conceded that Australia's bowling had been vastly superior and acknowledged that England had "not played anything like your best." He also accepted that some selections may have been persisted with for too long during the series, though no names were specified.
On the future of himself and head coach Brendon McCullum, Key stated the decision rested with the ECB. "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," he said. He noted that while the team had only lost three Test series in four years, they had "mucked up on the big occasions," including the home Ashes in 2023.
Key concluded that the setup needed to evolve, stressing: "We have to make sure that we're doing things better. That's my view on it."
