England’s Ashes campaign has taken an unexpected detour—this time to the sunny shores of Noosa Heads. Just three days after suffering an eight-wicket defeat to Australia in the second Ashes Test, Ben Stokes and his men were spotted relaxing in the popular Queensland holiday town. The break comes at a time when England find themselves 0-2 down in the five-match series, having been rolled inside two days in Perth before another comprehensive loss in Brisbane.
With Australia firmly in control, England now face the daunting task of winning in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney to reclaim the urn. The team was granted a short recess before heading to Adelaide for the third Test starting December 17, a move head coach Brendon McCullum defended. Speaking after the second Test, he noted the value of stepping away from the pressure cooker.
“We have got a couple of days in Noosa, which will be good to spend casually and let the dust settle on what has been a pretty intense couple of weeks, and start to plot and plan our way back into the series,” Brendon McCullum said.
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While the getaway was reportedly planned before the series began, England’s precarious position has placed the break under fresh scrutiny. Former England cricketer David Lloyd criticised the timing, insisting the players needed hard practice rather than a beach retreat.
“I don’t think I would be going to Noosa. I am a bit old-school; it would be naughty-boy nets,” David Lloyd said on the BBC. “There are definite consequences to this.”
England’s cricketers are making themselves right at home in Noosa. The players are following their captain’s orders to the letter. @Tom_Wilson7 pic.twitter.com/HrfyP8Jyhd
— 7NEWS Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) December 9, 2025
In contrast, former Australian cricketer and coach Darren Lehmann saw no issue with the downtime, dismissing the criticism as unnecessary. “Please let the England players enjoy a few days off without the scrutiny; every side has a break mid-tour. When Adelaide comes around, let everything resume,” he remarked.
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Adding a lighter layer to the situation, a quirky incident involving Brydon Carse, Harry Brook, and Zak Crawley surfaced online. Cricket writer Cameron Ponsonby recounted how Carse accidentally dropped thousands of dollars in cash at a Perth café, sending notes flying across the street—a moment symbolic, perhaps, of England’s chaotic start to the series.
With the pressure mounting and the Ashes slipping away, England will hope their time in Noosa brings clarity, calm, and—most importantly—a spark for a turnaround.
