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New Delhi: An eye witness has said contrary to reports of England players drinking heavily during their mid-Ashes break ahead of the third Test, they were well behaved and mixed with locals during their down time at a popular beachside destination in Adelaide.
England director Rob Key has launched an investigation into behaviour of the players during the trip, pointing out that heavy drinking was unacceptable for an international team that has lost the five-match Ashes series 3-0 with two matches to spare.
But former Australia coach Darren Lehmann said he saw nothing wrong in the conduct of English players at the same place in Noosa with them at the same time.
“I was in Noosa and this bugs me. I am all for getting stuck into England. They haven’t played well enough, their preparation before the first game of the series (was not good) I get all that. But I was actually there. They were actually really well behaved. They mixed with the locals, had a good time,” said Lehmann on ABC Sport.
“The reports of them stagged is just wrong. They were polite and a delight to the people of Noosa, played golf, played soccer with the locals all that sort of stuff. They were well liked there.”
England lost the first three Tests without putting much of a fight and their scant preparation ahead of the series has been out up for scrutiny.
They should be criticised for their underwhelming display, but not for behaviour as they behaved appropriately and mixed with locals, Lehmann said.
“I would defend them a bit because that’s just out of order. They are running a campaign against them almost and now Rob Key is doing what, a stag-do review or whatever they call it,” the former left hand batter said.
“I didn’t see that. I saw people relaxing, enjoying Noosa for what it is. It didn’t look good because what had happened previously but I have to come to their defence here because they are professional athletes and they are well behaved from what I saw.”
England skipper Ben Stokes has defended his players in the face of mounting criticism ahead of the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
