The England team breathed a collective sigh of relief as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has given the players a clean chit regarding allegations of excessive drinking during a team-building trip to Noosa between the second and third Tests of The Ashes tour 2025-26.
Multiple reports had suggested that England players were involved in excessive drinking during this trip, aimed at helping them recover from their defeat and prepare for the upcoming match. However, recent reports indicate that the ECB found no misconduct on the part of the English players during the trip.
Despite various videos circulating on social media showing top-order batter Ben Duckett appearing drunk after partying late into the night, the ECB concluded that there was “no misconduct,” and no disciplinary action will be taken against the players.
According to a report in The Daily Mail, if the ECB had identified any concerns, they would have acted immediately rather than waiting until after the Ashes loss. The report noted, “The procedure of the inquiry was not disclosed to the public, and the verdict was drafted against ‘beer drinking’ and no other misconduct.”
Top ECB official Rob Key stated that the reason for the “no misconduct” verdict was that nothing was flagged by the security personnel assigned to the team in Australia. “The England cricket team had security personnel for the trip to Noosa, who were authorised to intervene if any misbehaviour or red flag activities occurred. However, they weren’t needed, and the break was more like a bachelorette party,” the report added.
This conclusion will provide the England team with much relief as they head to Sydney for their next and final assignment Down Under—the fifth and final Test of the series starting on January 4.
After falling to an unassailable 0-3 deficit, England managed to salvage some pride by winning the fourth Test in Melbourne within two days. Ben Stokes and his team aim to finish the series on a high note by pursuing a 3-2 victory in the final encounter in Sydney.