Vaughan Defends England’s Noosa Trip: “Focus on the Cricket, Not the Pub”

New Delhi, December 25, 2025: As England grapples with the fallout of losing the Ashes in record time, former captain Michael Vaughan has weighed in on the growing controversy surrounding the team’s mid-series break in Noosa. While social media clips of an inebriated Ben Duckett have sparked an ECB investigation, Vaughan insists the public’s anger is being directed at the wrong target.

Writing in his latest column, Vaughan pushed back against the “moral panic” over players enjoying a few drinks during their downtime. “I am not going to point the finger at a group of young people who have had a few beers on a couple of days off,” Vaughan stated, though he added a pointed caveat: “I did exactly the same… although I did at least know when it was time to go home, and that is probably what Ben Duckett needs to learn.”

The Noosa Controversy

The scrutiny intensified after videos emerged from the Sunshine Coast resort where England spent four nights following their defeat in the second Test. Reports likened the break to a “stag do,” with footage showing Duckett slurring his speech and engaging in a verbal spat with a fan.

England’s Managing Director, Rob Key, has confirmed the board will investigate claims of “excessive” drinking. While Key admitted he has no issue with a glass of wine at dinner, he described reports of a six-day drinking session as “unacceptable” for professional athletes in the middle of a major tour.

Performance vs. Lifestyle

For Vaughan, the “drinking culture” narrative is a convenient distraction from the real issue: England’s failure on the pitch. * The Results: England lost the first three Tests in just 11 days of play, one of the fastest Ashes defeats in history.

• The Preparation: Critics have questioned why the team prioritised a resort holiday over extra practice sessions after being outclassed in Perth and Brisbane.
• The Averages: Ben Duckett, the man at the centre of the storm, has struggled significantly, averaging just 16 across the series so far.

Vaughan argues that the players’ off-field antics only become a problem because they aren’t winning. “I criticise what they do on the cricket field, the way they play, and the way they prepare,” he noted. He suggested that if England were 2-1 up in the series, the Noosa trip would be seen as a masterstroke of “mental refreshment” rather than a scandal.

What’s Next for England?

As the team moves to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test, the pressure is at an all-time high. The ECB’s investigation continues, but no formal disciplinary action has been taken yet.

The focus now shifts to whether Ben Stokes’ side can salvage some pride in the remaining two matches. For Ben Duckett, the challenge is twofold: he must prove he has the discipline to handle the scrutiny of international cricket and, more importantly, find a way to score runs against a dominant Australian attack.