The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has launched an investigation into the conduct of its players during the recent Ashes tour in Australia. This comes after alarming reports surfaced of several team members engaging in excessive drinking over a six-day period during a scheduled break between Test matches.
Managing Director Breaks Silence on Noosa Incident
ECB's managing director, Rob Key, addressed the controversy on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. He confirmed the board would formally look into the allegations surrounding the team's activities during a four-day break in Noosa, Queensland. This break occurred after England's defeat in the second Test at Brisbane and before the crucial third Test in Adelaide.
Key was unequivocal in his stance on the matter, stating that drinking heavily is 'completely unacceptable' for an international cricket team. He emphasized that while he supports players taking necessary breaks to recharge, crossing the line into excessive alcohol consumption is not tolerated.
The Details of the Extended Drinking Session
According to a BBC report cited in the incident, the problematic behaviour may have started even before the team reached Noosa. The report suggested that some members of the squad followed two days of drinking in Brisbane with four more days in Noosa. This cumulatively amounted to six days of drinking, which matched the number of days of Test cricket played on the tour up to that point.
The England party was reportedly conspicuous in Noosa, drinking by the side of the road and many wearing traditional Akubra hats. Key acknowledged the reports, saying, "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." He added that the board has added security and other means to ascertain the exact details of what transpired.
A Pattern of Behaviour and the Defence of Necessary Breaks
This is not the first disciplinary issue related to player conduct on this tour. Prior to the Ashes, England had already sent home two players, Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell, after they were spotted drinking in New Zealand the night before a final ODI.
However, Rob Key defended the principle of giving players a break during a gruelling long-format tour. He argued that multi-format players like Harry Brook and Jofra Archer, who face relentless schedules including the World Cup and IPL, need time to "get away and live a normal life." He stated he had no issue with the Noosa trip if it was for relaxation, but drew a firm line at behaviour resembling a "stag do" or a harmful drinking culture.
The investigation will now seek to determine the full extent of the players' actions and whether their preparation for the Adelaide Test, which England went on to lose, was compromised. The outcome is likely to influence team discipline protocols for future tours.
