English bowling great Stuart Broad has stepped in to defend his former teammates, who have been accused of drinking and partying too heavily during their recent series overseas, including the Ashes in Australia.
A spate of incidents has led to the criticism, particularly in the wake of their 4-1 Test loss to the Aussies.
Video footage of the team drinking in Noosa during a break between Tests, which featured a heavily intoxicated Ben Duckett walking the streets, was among those incidents.
READ MORE: Tsitsipas hammered after ‘cheap’ loss to Aussie star
READ MORE: Smith makes huge call on wild PGA Tour ultimatum
READ MORE: Carey’s candid admission after surprise World Cup snub
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is investigating the incident, though captain Ben Stokes called for “empathy” from those judging from a distance.
Test vice-captain Harry Brook also had an altercation with a bouncer in New Zealand, who reportedly refused him entry into a venue, something the English batter has since apologised for.
There were also reports of England players out on the town in Adelaide after they lost the Ashes series in record time, despite a directive from Stokes to stay in.
But Broad has dismissed claims the team has a drinking problem and instead believes the issue is teammates not looking after each other in those predicaments.
“They’ve just had a couple of guys who have made mistakes and that’s got into the media,” he told the For the Love of Cricket podcast.
“I think it’s up to your teammates to get you out of those situations, and that’s when your culture’s really strong.
“Ben Duckett isn’t left alone, no idea where his hotel is. Harry Brook doesn’t get himself in a situation with a bouncer, because they’re not allowed anywhere near that situation. So I think that’s the thing that will disappoint [head coach] Brendon McCullum.”
Broad also rejected suggestions the ECB should put a curfew on its players during overseas series.
“I really didn’t like having a 12 o’clock curfew, because I just didn’t feel like you should need it,” he said.
“As long as you have people around you to get yourself home at a suitable hour, having the teammates around you to go, ‘your time’s up’.
“I look at this England team, they’re not drinking. I’ve seen loads of things about a drinking culture and we got that in 2021-22 when we left Australia.
“(Zak) Crawley, (Ollie) Pope, and in recent times Stokes and (Joe) Root – they’re not really drinkers, are they? They’re not party animals and going out tearing it to shreds.
“There isn’t a drinking culture. I’ll hang my hat on that, if I’m honest, knowing the boys as well as I do. But it is just making sure the boys don’t get in trouble when situations arise.”
The veteran of 167 Tests for England was strong in his stance that players need a release from the pressure and stress that comes with the spotlight of international cricket.
“As an international player, you need some sort of release,” Broad said.
“If you don’t have that mental switch off … cricketers are away six months of the year in hotels, it drives you mad if you don’t do anything.
“We’ve seen Australia winning the Ashes, Travis Head’s had the time of his life, living the dream, doing interviews on the wines and all sorts.
“Twelve o’clock, you’re not really getting to that time that often, but if you win, you deserve to probably go and relax and enjoy yourself.”
England will be back in Australia in 2027 for a one-off day-night Test at the MCG to celebrate 150 years of Test cricket.
But if they have their way, that will be the last time they play the pink ball format on Australian soil.
A BBC report suggests the ECB has indicated to Cricket Australia that they do not want a day-night Test for the Ashes come 2029-30.
Australia has been the innovator of pink ball cricket since 2015, and has dominated the format, particularly on home soil.
England however has turned their nose up at it, only hosting one day-night Test since its inception, all the way back in 2017.
They have now been on the receiving end of four comprehensive thrashings in pink ball cricket on Australian soil, including the most recent Brisbane Test.
And now they’ve seemingly had enough of the beltings.
Even the day-night Test at the MCG in 2027 has been questioned, according to the BBC, with calls for it to be moved to a regulation timeslot.
The report suggests the ECB will reject any plans for a pink ball test come 2029-30, hoping the Ashes will remain a traditional display of Test match cricket.
Veteran batsman Joe Root voiced his opposition to the format before the Brisbane Test, saying the Ashes doesn’t need a pink ball.
“I personally don’t think so,” Root told the BBC when asked if the Ashes needed day-night Tests.
“A series like this, does it need it, I don’t think so, but it doesn’t mean that it shouldn’t be here either.”
Australia has only lost one pink ball test on home soil from the 14 they have played – to the West Indies in Brisbane back in 2024.
Former England captain Alastair Cook expressed similar views to Root before their day-night Ashes defeat in 2025.
”When we played one in Adelaide, a great sporting city, it just felt like a shame that the fans could not head back into town and go for a drink or a bite to eat and discuss the day’s events. That vibe just gets ruined with late-night finishes,” Cook wrote in the Telegraph.
