Aussie keeper backs England beach reset

IT’S NOT A BAD TIME TO REFRESH THE BATTERIES, SAYS CAREY

- BY RORY DOLLARD

Alex Carey, and inset, Ben Stokes

ENGLAND'S decision to take a mid-Ashes break on the Sunshine Coast has attracted an onslaught from Australian media, but rival wicketkeeper Alex Carey has defended their right to “refresh the batteries”.

The touring squad’s four-day trip to the beach resort of Noosa has long been inked into their two-month-long itinerary, but after slipping 2-0 behind following defeats in Perth and Adelaide, the knives are out Down Under.

England have been followed by photographers, television reporters and writers, with shots of players ordering beers and relaxing on the beach doing the rounds.

Headlines including “Sun's out, run’s out’, “Life’s a beach even for sinking Poms”, “Over-prepared to the bitter end” have been churned out alongside the images.