Captain Ben Stokes said his primary concern was protecting the welfare of England players amid allegations of excessive drinking during a mid-Ashes beach break, but did not address the matter directly.
On Wednesday, ahead of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, Stokes was peppered with questions about his team’s actions at Noosa between the second and third Tests, following reports in the British media comparing it to the “Stade deux”.
Recommended stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
Unverified social media footage showed opening pitcher Ben Duckett looking drunk and disoriented.
A disastrous five-Test tour that saw Australia lead 3-0 suffered a further blow on Wednesday with pace spearhead Jofra Archer missing the rest of the series with a side strain.
England cricket boss Rob Key promised on Tuesday that he would investigate the drinking allegation, but the England and Wales Cricket Board said in a statement it would seek to establish the facts.
Stokes, whose team has already lost the Ashes, said his main concern was the mental health of his players and ensuring they were ready for the Melbourne Test starting on Friday.
“I’m obviously aware of the press and everything that’s going on right now,” Stokes said.
“My main concern is the players and how we handle this moment is the most important thing for me.
“The well-being of everyone there, and perhaps certain individuals, is the most important thing for me as England captain right now.
“It’s never a good place to be when not only the media world but also the social media world overlap,” he added.
“It’s a very difficult situation to be in here as an individual. As an individual, knowing that you have the support of people like your leaders, in a way, it’s really good to know that you have that support.”
Asked directly if his teammates had “done anything wrong at Noosa”, Stokes replied: “I just answered everything there.”
Stokes attracts attention as attention grows on England
England headed to the tourist destination of Noosa in Queensland after suffering heavy defeats in the first two Tests in Perth and Brisbane.
They spent a few days on the sand and around restaurants and bars before heading to Adelaide, where they were eliminated in the third Test as Australia retained the Ashes.
Britain’s Daily Telegraph reported, “It is no exaggeration to say that some, but not all, players drank for five or six days after drowning their sorrows after the Brisbane Test.”
The newspaper added that the players “did nothing outrageous at Noosa”, but England’s professionalism had already been under the microscope despite their limited preparations, and there were concerns about the level of drinking.
Stokes admitted there would be scrutiny when a team is losing and “it’s to be expected”.
“When you’re losing 3-0 you can’t really stand on your feet, but we have two more cricket matches to go and that’s what we have to focus on,” he said.
“We haven’t won a game in Australia for a long time.”
England have played 18 Tests since winning a match in Australia, dating back to their last series win in Australia in 2010-11.
Surrendering this series after 11 days of play is the second fastest in over a century since the 1921 Ashes finished in eight days.
To make matters worse, Archer will not take part in any further tours, with Gus Atkinson replacing him in Melbourne.
The underperforming Ollie Pope was replaced at number 3 to compensate for his poor form, with Jacob Bethel replacing him as the only change.
Contrast with England’s Test woes and Australia’s Ashes high
A wicketkeeper bowling while standing on the stumps can hurt a fast bowler’s self-esteem, but Australian paceman Scott Boland said he has grown accustomed to bowling thanks to Alex Carey’s excellent glovework in the ongoing Ashes series.
Carey’s wicketkeeping masterclass has been a key factor in ensuring Australia take the lead in the five-match series, with the 34-year-old particularly impressive in the second Test at the Gabba, coming up against Borland and Michael Nether.
With the wicketkeeper breathing down his neck, England’s batsmen were mostly confined to the crease, so the home bowler didn’t really have to change length.
“I’ve never before bowled the ball all the way to the stumps at a keeper,” Borland told reporters ahead of the fourth Test.
“Everyone wants to be a fast bowler, but not everyone likes to be a keeper till the stumps.
“But I’ve seen over the last month how effective it is and how Alex can make the batsman stand still by standing on the stumps.”
Wicketkeepers typically stand further away from the stumps when facing fast bowlers, giving them more time to react to the ball’s high velocity and bounce, and reducing the risk of missed catches.
Carey showed incredible reflexes, even from close range, to beat Ben Stokes’ thick edge after the England captain hit a nether shot in the second innings.
Such dismissals gave Boland confidence that he could continue bowling edge-inducing length balls no matter where Carey stood.
“I just have to believe that the length of the ball I bowl to finish a player is the same length that he bowls when he goes up to the stumps or backs up,” the 36-year-old said.
“Gabba was pretty bouncy, going up to the stumps a little bit and catching the ball at waist height. I bowled to the bouncer and he caught it, so I have full confidence in him there.”
Former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy called Carey “clearly the best in the world”, while teammate Steve Smith called him a “freak”.
