Former England captain Michael Vaughan has offered new insight into what could have happened during the side’s infamous trip to Noosa between the second and third Ashes tests.
With England already 2-0 down after losing against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane, Ben Stokes and his side enjoyed a mid-series break in the Queensland coastal town of Noosa.
The trip, which lasted four nights, had been planned well before the series began and may have been reacted to differently had the tourists been 2-0 up rather than 2-0 down at the time.
However, several videos of the England players emerged online, appearing to show some – including opening batsman Ben Duckett – intoxicated.
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Some reports suggested the trip, at least for some, turned into a ‘stag-do’ before an investigation was launched by England Cricket.
Duckett, who has struggled in Australia, averaging just 16.62 from eight innings, appeared drunk while engaging with a member of the public, which led to criticism, while others defended the Nottinghamshire star.
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Now, ex-England captain and 2005 Ashes winner, Vaughan, has offered his thoughts on why Duckett may have been “unlucky” to be caught in the media firing line.
Speaking about England’s Noosa trip on Stick to Cricket - alongside David “Bumble” Lloyd, Phil “Tuffers” Tufnell, and Alastair Cook - Vaughan claimed: “I reckon Duckett was a bit unlucky. I bet you he was one of the first to leave. I reckon he’s gone on the street and tried to get home early. I bet the rest of the lads are still inside.”
It must also be considered that several eyewitnesses who engaged with the England team praised the side for mixing with the locals.
Former Australia batsman and coach Darren Lehmann defended the England team and claimed “they were actually really well behaved”.
As reported by the Mail, England Cricket has “drawn a line” under the team’s Noosa trip, with no formal action likely.
Since the trip, England have performed better.
Brendon McCullum’s side lost the third test in Adelaide in what was a closer contest than the previous defeats in Perth and Brisbane.
The Adelaide result also meant Australia went 3-0 up and retained the Ashes with two tests to play in the five-test series.
Then, finally, after 15 years without a victory in Australia, England won the two-day Melbourne test to make it 3-1 and salvage some credit from an otherwise dismal tour.
The fifth and final test will take place in Sydney starting on January 4.
Luke Davies