Ben Stokes and the England squad are relaxing in Noosa after their defeat in the pink-ball Test at Gabba. The Australian media didn’t hold back their criticism. Despite some brief resistance, England fell to an eight-wicket loss in Brisbane.

The England squad took a breather in the Sunshine Coast resort town, enjoying a few days off before shifting their focus to the third Test. England’s captain was spotted walking on the beach in casual shorts, gladly posing for photos with supporters. According to Australian media reports, opener Zak Crawley and some of the pacers were seen relaxing with beers to unwind from their difficult start.

The relaxing images of the England squad are likely to raise eyebrows, particularly after their poor performance in the first two Tests against their fierce rivals. Michael Vaughan expressed his displeasure with the decision not to participate in the two-day pink-ball game in Canberra to prepare for Brisbane.

In response, England coach Brendan McCullum argued that his team was more than ready for the second Test, even without playing a practice match.

The Australian press highlighted England’s brief getaway to a Queensland coastal town, showing shirtless photos of Stokes with mocking headlines.

“England retreats to the beach while on the back foot,” one of the media houses wrote. “Life’s a beach, even for the struggling Poms.” A third headline took a playful dig: “Sun’s out, runs out,” alongside a photo emphasising Stokes’s tattooed arms.

The Courier Mail in Brisbane took it up a notch further with a front-page teaser that read, “Having a Bazball at Noosa!”

A two-page article inside referred to the English side as “wounded,” noting that even their coastal getaway wasn’t completely devoid of cricket, as a photo showed Stokes following a child carrying a bat.

England’s struggles have brought the media spotlight. After a two-day defeat in Perth and an eight-wicket loss in Brisbane, they find themselves 0-2 behind. To reclaim the Ashes, they must win the remaining three matches in Adelaide, Melbourne, and Sydney.