Former England wicketkeeper Matt Prior has revealed there is a “deep-rooted issue that is synonymous with cricket tours” after England chief Rob Key pledged to investigate whether his players’ drinking on a mid-Ashes beach break went too far.
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The England team headed to Queensland tourist playground Noosa after losing the first two Tests in Perth and Brisbane heavily.
They spent several days on the sand and around restaurants and bars, followed by TV crews, photographers and reporters before travelling to Adelaide, where they lost the third Test as Australia retained the Ashes.
Unverified social media footage has also emerged appearing to show opening batter Ben Duckett drunk.
Britain’s Daily Telegraph reported that “after drowning their sorrows after the Brisbane Test, it is no exaggeration to say some, certainly not all, players drank for five or six days”.
It added that players “did nothing outrageous in Noosa” but there was concern over the level of drinking, with England’s professionalism already under question after their limited preparations.
Concerning the Duckett video, an England and Wales Cricket Board spokesman said the ECB was establishing the facts and that it had “high expectations for behaviour”.
While not commenting on Duckett specifically, Prior more broadly spoke to claims that England’s Noosa getaway resembled a “stag do”.
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“This doesn’t shock me – whenever England lose in Australia there is a drinking culture and all of these things come out,” Prior said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
“If it was a stag do – as has been used – that is a headline and of course there are a lot of England fans that are angry and rightly so, this will grab a huge amount of attention.
“If it is the case (players acting like they were on a stag do) then that isn’t right and England have got another thing on this tour. It is a tour full of mistakes so far.
“One thing I would suggest is that England tours, particularly in Australia, are incredibly pressurised and when you’re up and against it there is no escape. With social media these days there is nowhere to go.
“This is the not first time – there is a more deep-rooted issue that is synonymous with cricket tours and being away for a long time and press being on their back. What are you meant to do? Just sit in your hotel room for 24 hours a day and get more depressed? It is a real challenge when you’re on a tour like this.”
‘GUTTED’ CHIEF SAYS ENGLAND AT ‘20 PER CENT CAPACITY’ FOR ASHES
A “gutted” director of chief Rob Key has declared England was at “20 per cent capacity” for this year’s Ashes series.
Key admitted this was “massively” a missed opportunity for the tourists, who were expected to give Australia a serious challenge in its bid to retain the urn.
That was especially true considering Australia was without Josh Hazlewood, while Pat Cummins missed the first and second Test and Steve Smith was ruled out of the third.
Instead, Australia could be on track for a series whitewash in a disappointing result that has left Key frustrated.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Key said England had been “at about 20 per cent of our capacity”.
“Could we have beaten this Australian side? I think we could have,” he said.
“We would have had to be at our best. We’ve been at about 20 per cent of our capacity I’d say.”
Key was particularly critical of the bowling outside of Jofra Archer, who took 3-29 in 16 overs on the first day of the third Test and was described by the England chief as “outstanding” so far in the series.
“We haven’t been consistent enough with the ball. I think all the bowlers that we have can bowl better than what they did,” Key said.
“Jofra with the exception has been outstanding. I think every bowler really and they’ve been getting better throughout the series, which tells you really that probably we didn’t get it right at the start.
“Massively (it feels like a missed opportunity). You’re sort of gutted, disappointed, sorry as much as anyone else for the way we’ve played out here because we’re a better side than what we’ve shown.”
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LYON’S WIFE SHARES PHOTOS OF AUSSIE STAR AFTER SURGERY
Nathan Lyon’s wife Emma has shared photos of the veteran spinner after he underwent surgery for a hamstring injury that is set to sideline him for an extended period.
Lyon damaged his right hamstring while fielding on day five of the Adelaide Test as he lunged to prevent a boundary at fine leg, with the 38-year-old hobbling off and failing to return.
It was later confirmed by Cricket Australia that Lyon had torn his right hamstring and would undergo surgery, with wife Emma sharing an image of a tired Lyon in a gown lying down on a hospital bed with his daughter.
“My world. Playing doctors with daddy,” she wrote.
Emma also snapped Lyon being wheeled through the hospital with his daughter on his lap.
Lyon will take no part in the rest of the series, with head coach Andrew McDonald confirming he is facing a “long recovery time frame”.
“He’s pretty shattered,” McDonald said.
“… He’s facing a long recovery time frame. That type of injury, it’s going to be a hard period for him to get back to where he was.
“But he still wants to do it and that’s the main thing.”
Todd Murphy has been named to replace the 38-year-old while Jye Richardson also enters the squad after a four-year absence from the Test arena to replace Pat Cummins.
Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland will lead the pace attack, with Richardson one of the options to round out the attack along with Michael Neser and Brendan Doggett.
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