England’s Ashes 2025-26 tour has turned into one of the biggest talking points in world cricket, and the latest reports show that the problems were far deeper than just the results on the field. Australia dominated the Ashes series 4-1, exposing England’s preparation, mindset, and off-field discipline.
Ashes 2025-26 Disaster That Shook English Cricket
Expectations were high for England, with many believing Ben Stokes and Co. could win their first Ashes series in Australia in 15 years. But things went completely wrong. England lost the urn to the Kangaroos in just 11 days after facing embarrassment in the Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide tests.
Following the nightmare Ashes 2025-26 campaign, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has now announced a full review into how the Australia tour was managed. However, captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum both want to continue in their roles, but reports suggest it will not be easy to rebuild confidence and discipline after such a chaotic tour.
Read Also: Brendon McCullum defends England stars’ drinking culture after Ashes humiliation
Drinks and Gambling Add Fuel to the Fire
Now, a latest report by The Telegraph highlighted the disturbing off-field behavior of the English side. The England players stayed at Crown Towers, a luxury casino and ultra-luxury hotel in Australia, during the high-profile Test series. The report claimed the entire squad lived in the casino for weeks.
While staying there, the English players reportedly made multiple visits to the casino and consumed a lot of alcohol, and shockingly, in full view 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 comes into the light after England’s ODI captain Harry Brook had been 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 exposed the tensions between Stokes and McCullum on the tour. Between the first and second tests, Stokes wanted extra training before the day/night test, but McCullum preferred a lighter approach. The Brisbane Test saw Stokes take cautious tactics, allowing Australia’s tailenders to score freely, which frustrated McCullum in the dressing room.
He was also surprised that Stokes did not step up more in later matches. These differences became clear publicly as well. Stokes called on his players to show fight and said Australia is no place for weak men, while McCullum claimed the team had “overtrained.”
Off the field, the England cricket team’s behavior came under more criticism. After the second test, they went on a break to Noosa, even though they were 0-2 down and facing a real threat of losing the Ashes. Reports revealed that some players drank heavily for days, and almost none had their families with them on tour, except Joe Root, until the Adelaide Test.
Read Also: England announce ‘BAN’ on unprofessional player activities after Harry Brook row, Ashes humiliation
Vaping, Viral Videos, and More Embarrassment
Other incidents 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, which was their first Test win in Australia in 14 years.
Apart from Bethell, Ben Duckett also faced criticism after a viral video showed him heavily drunk and struggling to find an Uber, which fueled allegations about off-field distractions, especially since he was struggling with runs. Despite this, Ollie Pope, who was dropped from the side, has reportedly supported Duckett in the dressing room.
Final Twist After Ashes Debacle
England’s Ashes nightmare did not end in Australia. The report revealed that the players headed back to England to face the fallout of the loss, but McCullum travelled to the Gold Coast to attend the famous Magic Millions horse racing event and sales.
This Ashes series has revealed 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 critical tour all contributed to their Ashes disaster.
