England team director Rob Key has said the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) will look into reports that players drank excessively during a break in the ongoing Ashes series.
Australia secured an 82-run victory over England on the fifth day of the third Test in Adelaide on Sunday, taking a 3-0 lead in the series and retaining the Ashes. The win followed England’s eight-wicket defeats in the first two Tests in Perth and Brisbane.
After those losses, the England squad spent time in Noosa during the break. Media reports in both England and Australia claimed that players drank heavily throughout their stay in the holiday destination.
Speaking to the BBC in an interview published on Tuesday, Key said some reports may have been exaggerated but stressed that excessive drinking would not be acceptable if proven true.
He added that the board would focus on establishing the facts rather than relying on embellished reports. Key further made it clear he does not support a culture of excessive drinking within the team.
“If it’s true that it became a stag do and people are out drinking all the time excessively, that’s not acceptable. I don’t agree with a drinking culture. I don’t like a drinking culture,” he added.
Before the Ashes series began, Key had urged England players not to “get caught doing stupid things.”
The fourth Test of the series is set to begin on Friday in Melbourne.
Meanwhile, Australia coach Andrew McDonald said he was confident his team would be fully prepared for the next match despite celebrating their victory.
