Aussie keeper backs England beach reset

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

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Ben Stokes

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, tun’s out’, “Life’s a beach even for sinking Poms’, “Overprepared to the bitter end” have been churned out alongside the images.

Captain Ben Stokes even agreed to pose for a good-humoured picture with representatives from coastal radio station 92.7MixFm, standing alongside two men in full cricket whites holding signs that read “For Sale Moral Victories” and “Bazballers Anonymous Free Counselling”.