Overview
- The England and Wales Cricket Board is conducting a formal review of the 4-1 Ashes defeat, examining preparation, selection and off-field conduct.
- Fresh reporting from The Telegraph describes a loose tour environment, including a casino-hotel stay in Perth, no warm-up matches, late-night outings and a viral Noosa clip involving Ben Duckett.
- The Telegraph also reports that some players ignored Ben Stokes’ request not to go out after the series was lost and recounts a cash mishap involving Brydon Carse that highlighted concerns over discipline.
- Media accounts allege a tactical and philosophical rift between Brendon McCullum and Stokes over training intensity after the early losses, alongside divergent public messaging.
- McCullum publicly rejected talk of a booze-fuelled tour, saying players did not drink to excess, as former pacer James Anderson criticized Stokes for praising bowlers’ effort, arguing such work rate is a basic expectation.