England players have been spotted enjoying a mid-tour break in Noosa, as Ben Stokes and his teammates were seen sipping beer, sunbathing and soaking in the sea, playing football on the beach for a bit of relaxation. Brendon McCullum has also been dropped along with his team who, according to him, are letting the dust settle after a week of intense cricket action.
Despite not performing very well in the Ashes, where they have already lost two games in the series, the English Test team has been spotted having fun on the beach in Noosa with their coach Brendon McCullum, according to English media reports.
Amidst this, several criticisms were made; However, Bizzball is currently the most carefree team in the world, and once again they have proven that they just want to enjoy the game rather than be affected by the results.
Buzzball in party mood in Noosa
England captain Ben Stokes and his England teammates were spotted sunbathing with cans of beer in their hands in Noosa, days before the start of the third Test in Adelaide.
After England lost the pink-ball Test, their head coach Brendon McCullum claimed that England lost probably due to over-preparation, which resulted in the Australian players not being fresh enough.
McCullum said after the game at the Gabba, “We’ve got a few days in Noosa, which will be good to spend a few days carefree, and let the dust settle on what has been a tough few weeks and start plotting and planning our way back into the series.”
Former England player David Lloyd criticized him, saying he would probably return to the nets rather than go to Noosa as part of his old-school thinking. Additionally, former English captain Nasser Hussain is confused about England’s schedule as they will go into the third Test without a single practice match.
Ben Stokes defended England’s holiday mode in Noosa, saying: “We’ve been here for four weeks, and they’re pretty full on.”
Despite the defeat, England captain Ben Stokes has defended his exodus and claimed it was much needed after the immense pressure placed on the players in the island nation.
“We’ve been here for four weeks and they’re pretty full,” he told reporters about the Noosa trip.
“As much as the sport is physical, a big part of it is the mental side of it. I know that. I’ve experienced it. I know what sport can do to you when things don’t feel quite right or aren’t going right,” Stokes said.
He further claimed that it is very important for teams to be able to move forward as a unit and put aside the pressure of the game for a few days to come back stronger later.
Vaughan criticized the English management, saying, “It has been an environment of no results for too long.”
After facing consecutive humiliating defeats, England captain Ben Stokes also made a bold comment saying that his team is not for the weak. Former England captain Michael Vaughan said Stokes should accept his role in worsening weaknesses within the team.
“This has been an environment of no consequences for too long,” Vaughn wrote. “The team are told how good they are, and are constantly supported, whether they play well or not. English cricket is reaping what it has sown.”
He also claimed that England players should play all the time because the nets are fine, but the real feeling of responsibility comes when one works on the field.
Vaughan said, “Training and not playing is another example of a no-results environment. You never know if you are out at the net or not, and yet you still have to face the second ball.”
Also read: Hardik Pandya rejects Krunal Pandya, credits girlfriend Mahika Sharma for ‘great things’ in his life