Australian great comes out in support of England cricketers amid drinking accusations: 'They are running a campaign against them'

England cricketers have found an unlikely ally in former Australian coach and player Darren Lehmann as they face increased scrutiny over alleged heavy drinking during their holiday in Noosa between the Ashes Test series. Australian and English media have reported that some of the England players were drinking for the major part of the nine-day holiday in the beach town.

The poor form of the England team, which lost the Ashes in just 11 days across three matches and face the possibility of a 5-0 whitewash, has also not helped their cause. The director of cricket for England men’s, Rob Key, has said the drinking accusations against the players would be investigated.

Lehmann supports England cricketers amid drinking accusations

Lehmann, however, has refuted the media claims, lending support to England cricketers. Lehmann claimed that England players were “well behaved’ in Noosa and were liked by the locals.

“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,” Lehmann said on ABC Sport.

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“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.”

Lehmann added that he would defend the England cricketers because the media is running an agenda against them.

“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,” said Lehmann. “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.”

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The Noosa holiday took place after England lost the first two Tests. They are currently 3-0 down and the fourth Test starts on Boxing Day (26 December) at the MCG.