A “much bigger conversation” needs to be had about cricket’s drinking culture, says former England wicketkeeper Matt Prior.
England suffered a dismal 4-1 Ashes defeat by Australia and their behaviour – as well as the team culture – has been scrutinised throughout.
The England and Wales Cricket Board said in December that reports of players drinking excessively during the mid-series trip to Noosa would be investigated.
On Thursday, white-ball captain and Test vice-captain Harry Brook apologised after being involved in an altercation with a nightclub bouncer on the tour of New Zealand that preceded the Ashes.
The incident happened the night before a one-day international in Wellington which Brook captained, and the team subsequently lost.
Prior, who played 79 Tests, told BBC Radio 5 Live that “sometimes things can get on top of you” when playing for England, with drinking the “escapism” players turn to.
“There are a lot of challenges within cricket – vast time away from home, vast time sat in a hotel room by yourself, a huge amount of pressure on you,” Prior said.
“England’s drinking culture, or supposed drinking culture, is not the reason they lost the Ashes.
“But I think, if we want to go into it and you want to do a proper review of cricket, you can look into this far deeper, absolutely.”
