The Ashes 2025-26 tour of England has become one of the biggest talking points in world cricket, and the latest reports suggest the problems ran much deeper than the results on the field. Australia dominated the Ashes series 4–1, exposing England’s preparation, mentality and off-field discipline.
The Ashes 2025-26 disaster that shook English cricket
Expectations were high for England, with many believing that Ben Stokes and Co. could win their first Ashes series in Australia in 15 years. But things went completely wrong. After facing embarrassment in the Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide Tests, England lost to the Kangaroos in just 11 days.
After a nightmare Ashes 2025-26 campaign, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has now announced a full review of how the Australia tour was managed. Although both captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum want to continue in their roles, reports suggest that it will not be easy to rebuild confidence and discipline after such a chaotic tour.
Also read: Brendon McCullum defends England stars’ drinking culture after Ashes humiliation
Alcohol and gambling add fuel to the fire
Now, a latest report from The Telegraph has highlighted the troubling off-field behavior of the English side. England players stayed at Crown Towers, a luxury casino and ultra-luxury hotel in Australia, during the high-profile Test series. The report claimed that the entire squad remained at the casino for weeks.
While there, the English players reportedly made several visits to the casino and consumed much alcohol, and surprisingly, also in front of “England fans and other punters”. It is being said that it all started during England’s white-ball tour of New Zealand in October-November 2025.
This came to light after England’s ODI captain Harry Brook was involved in an off-field incident during the series against New Zealand, just a month before the Ashes.
Noosa break and cracks between Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum
The report also revealed tension between Stokes and McCullum on the tour. Between the first and second Tests, Stokes wanted additional training before the day/night Test, but McCullum preferred a lighter approach. Stokes adopted a cautious strategy in the Brisbane Test, allowing Australia’s tail-enders to score freely, frustrating McCullum in the dressing room.
He was also surprised that Stokes did not perform more in the subsequent matches. These differences became evident in public also. Stokes called on his players to show fight and said Australia was no place for weaklings, while McCullum claimed the team had become “over-coached”.
There was more criticism of the behavior of the England cricket team outside the field. After the second Test, they went into the break for Noosa, even though they were 0–2 down and facing real danger of losing the Ashes. Reports revealed that some players drank heavily for several days and almost none of their families, except Joe Root, accompanied them on the tour leading up to the Adelaide Test.
Also read: England announces ‘ban’ on players’ unprofessional activities after Harry Brook controversy, Ashes humiliation
Vaping, viral videos and more embarrassment
Other incidents were added to the Ashes drama. Young star Jacob Bethell was seen vaping during a night out before the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, which England surprisingly won in just two days, their first Test win in Australia in 14 years.
Apart from Bethel, Ben Duckett also faced criticism after a viral video showed him heavily intoxicated and struggling to find an Uber, leading to allegations of off-field distraction, especially since he was struggling with runs. Despite this, Ollie Pope, who was dropped from the team, has reportedly supported Duckett in the dressing room.
The final turn after the Ashes debacle
England’s Ashes nightmare did not end in Australia. Reports revealed that the players flew back to England to suffer the brunt of the defeat, but McCullum traveled to the Gold Coast to attend the famous Magic Millions horse racing event and sale.
This Ashes series has shown that England’s problems were not just about cricket. They were also about attitude, discipline and management. Clashes between Stokes and McCullum, off-field distractions and a lack of focus during a crucial tour all contributed to the ruin of the Ashes.