Cricket Aussie star Carey defends England's right to take a break

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”.

- Rory DOLLARD

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; “Overprepared to the bitter end” have been churned out alongside the images.