Former England bowler Stuart Broad has said he believes England “doesn’t have a drinking culture”, despite a high-profile incident during this winter’s 4-1 Ashes defeat to Australia.
England lost the series after just 11 days of cricket after a series of mistakes in the first three Tests in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide, and criticism for their lean preparation and aggressive style of cricket, as well as for being photographed drinking at a beach break in Noosa midway through the series.
During the series, videos posted on social media showed opening pitcher Ben Duckett, drunk and slurring his speech, being asked by a small group of people if he knew how to get back to his hotel.
Harry Brook also apologized after getting into an altercation with a nightclub bouncer in New Zealand in the autumn, saying he had “embarrassed myself and the team”.
England director Rob Key has vowed to investigate his team’s drinking habits after reports the mid-Ashes beach break resembled a “stag do”.
“They had some players who made mistakes and it got picked up in the media,” Broad said on the For the Love of Cricket podcast.
“I think it’s up to your teammates to get you out of that situation, but that’s when your culture is really strong.
“Ben Duckett is not left alone. He doesn’t know where his hotel is. Harry Brook doesn’t go into situations where he has bouncers because he’s not allowed to be around those situations. So I think that’s disappointing to (head coach) Brendon McCullum.”
“I really didn’t like the 12pm curfew, because I didn’t think it was necessary.
“As long as you have people around you to get home at a reasonable time and your teammates are there, the clock will run out.
Former England bowler Stuart Broad doesn’t think there is a “drinking culture” in the current team.
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Brendon McCullum wants to remain England head coach despite 4-1 loss to Ashes
“Looking at this England team, they’re not drinking. I’ve seen a lot about the drinking culture and I understood that when I left Australia in 2021-22.”
“Crawley, Pope, and more recently Stokes and Root, they’re not really drinkers, are they? They’re party people, they’re not the kind of people who would tear up a drinking party and go out.
“There’s no drinking culture. To be honest, I take my hat off to that because you know the boys as well as I do. But it’s just keeping the boys out of trouble when the situation arises.”
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Ben Stokes is determined to remain England captain despite Ashes defeat
McCullum’s team began a white-ball tour to New Zealand in October, before the multi-format players went straight to the Ashes, which ran from November 23 to January 7.
England will tour Sri Lanka from January 22 and play in both one-day and T20 internationals until the T20 World Cup begins on February 8.
“As an international player, you need some release,” Broad said.
“I know you[podcast host Jos Buttler]say footballers don’t have that mental switch off, but cricketers spend half the year in hotels and if they don’t do something they’ll go crazy.
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England national team managing director Rob Key has backed Brendon McCullum, saying he is the best person to continue leading England despite their heavy defeat to Australia.
“We watched Australia win the Ashes and Travis Head had the time of his life, doing wine and all kinds of interviews, making dreams come true.
“12 o’clock, I don’t come at that time very often, but if I win, I’ll probably go there and relax and have fun.”
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