Former England fast bowler Stuart Broad claims the current England cricket squad isn’t dealing with a drinking culture. He made these comments just as damning reports surfaced about player indiscipline during the disastrous 2025-26 Ashes tour in Australia. This defense, aimed at mitigating damage, comes after England’s 4-1 series defeat, a tour plagued by off-field incidents.
Ashes Defeat Stained by Off-Field Chaos
England’s Ashes campaign this winter was a low point for Ben Stokes’ side. They lost 4-1, grabbing their only win in a two-day match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground after the urn was already gone. Before the Ashes, issues were bubbling, with ODI captain Harry Brook involved in an altercation in New Zealand. Things seemed to point to some “unhealthy patterns of boozy behaviour,” as The Telegraph reported.
The newspaper’s investigation laid out a lot of internal problems. Players apparently visited casinos many times during the series. They engaged in binge drinking, sometimes for six days straight. These activities reportedly started even before Stokes arrived in Australia. No one seemed to hide it. Except for Joe Root, no players had family on tour until the Adelaide Test, which probably didn’t help with restraint in places like Noosa.
Some specific moments really grabbed attention. Jacob Bethell, a new star, was filmed vaping during a night out before the Boxing Day Test. Opener Ben Duckett appeared in a viral video, struggling to find an Uber. This fueled more drinking allegations, especially given his poor form with the bat. Ollie Pope, dropped from the side, even supported Duckett.
The report even suggested players ignored Ben Stokes’ orders about off-field conduct. It highlighted a disconnect between Captain Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum. Both want to keep their jobs and fix things, but the ECB’s review is taking a close look at how the management worked.
Broad’s Stance Against Damning Evidence
Broad’s firm statement, “Current England squad do not have drinking culture,” directly contradicts these widespread reports. He’s framing the team as disciplined compared to earlier eras. But the evidence from his podcast interview is hard to ignore.
“I look at this England team, they’re not drinking. I’ve seen loads of things about a drinking culture, but there isn’t one. Crawley, Pope, Stokes, Root, they’re not really drinkers. They’re not party animals.”
Stuart Broad on his ‘For the Love of Cricket’ podcast
He suggested recent alcohol-related incidents are mistakes by a couple of individuals, not a reflection of the whole team. Broad doesn’t like the idea of a midnight curfew. He thinks teammates should look after each other. Jos Buttler, who co-hosts the podcast, also mentioned the “optics” of it all. Players need to be aware how their actions look. You’re professional, he said, and you have to live that life.
Gavaskar’s Scathing Assessment and ECB Review
Meanwhile, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar didn’t hold back. He called England “paper tigers” in his Sportstar column. He feels English teams often get overhyped in the media. And then they fail to deliver.
“England’s performances in most sports are a huge let-down when set against the write-ups their teams receive… The disappointment, therefore, is far greater when the teams show that they are more paper tigers than real ones.”
Sunil Gavaskar, Sportstar Column
Gavaskar linked the off-field issues directly to their on-field collapse. He called their cricket “couldn’t care less cricket.” He also noted that Brendon McCullum’s “Bazball” approach lost its surprise factor. Teams figured out how to counter England once the ball moved off flat pitches. The ECB confirmed a “comprehensive review” into the tour’s management. Stokes and McCullum want to stay. They’re committed to turning things around. But the concerns about their working relationship remain.
What’s Next for the England Squad?
The ECB review is ongoing. No player sanctions or punishments have been announced so far. Broad’s comments are the latest public defense for a squad facing tough questions. The Ashes loss is a big setback for the Stokes-McCullum era. Now, they’ve got to regroup. They’re touring Sri Lanka and then heading into a T20 World Cup soon. The pressure is definitely on to restore discipline and performance. And maybe, just maybe, prove Broad right.
Soureesh Datta 
Sagnik Banerjee 
Ishaan Singh