Novak Djokovic kicked off his 2026 Australian Open campaign in style, securing a convincing straight-sets win over Spain's Pedro Martinez in the first round at Rod Laver Arena. The 38-year-old Serbian legend triumphed 6-3, 6-2, 6-2, marking his 100th career victory at Melbourne Park and
According to data analysed by the Tax Foundation, cumulative monthly customs duties collected by the United States have risen far faster in 2025 than in the previous year, underlining the growing fiscal impact of tariffs on imports. New Delhi: US tariff collections have witnessed a dramatic surge
Prague, Jan 19 (AP) A shooting at a town hall in northern Czech Republic on Monday left one dead and six others wounded, including three police officers, police said. Police said the suspect fatally shot himself and there was no further danger. The shooting took place at the Chribska town hall
The report from reinsurance company Swiss Re said the Indian insurance sector is entering a new era of robust mid-term growth, driven by strong macroeconomic fundamentals and rising consumer demand. New Delhi: The mid‑term annual premium growth in India is expected to touch 6
Donald Trump is expected to meet global business leaders in Davos on Wednesday, sources familiar with the matter said, as the US President's presence looms large over the annual gathering of the global elite in Switzerland.Business leaders, including CEOs in financial services
Literature enthusiasts' love affair with book fairs is no secret. Be it libraries, exhibitions, or bookstores, books have been celebrated for centuries. Each year, book fairs and literary events are organised to exhibit hundreds of varieties of books and draw massive crowds of avid readers
Kolkata, Jan 19 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has issued summonses to at least seven people in connection with its probe into a coal smuggling case, a senior officer said on Monday. They have been summoned to understand the money trail and ascertain where the proceeds of coal smuggling
A beautifully carved wooden swing (jhula) from Gujarat and a Pashmina shawl in an ornate silver box were among the gifts Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave to UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his two-hour “working visit” to India
England will investigate reports of Ashes drinking
England will investigate reports of players drinking excessively during a break from the Ashes series in the beach town of Noosa.
The England squad spent four nights on the Queensland coast between the second and third Tests.
Several outlets, including the BBC, reported that some players were drinking for a significant portion of their time in Noosa, as well as on two previous days in Brisbane, the venue for the second Test.
Although they produced an improved performance in the third Test in Adelaide, England were beaten, meaning they cannot win back the Ashes from Australia.
The home side have taken an unassailable 3-0 lead in only 11 days of cricket.
England director of cricket Rob Key told BBC Sport: "Headlines can be misleading at times, saying it's a stag do and stuff like that.
Stories of players drinking six days solid - that's unacceptable. We'll be looking into seeing what the facts are as opposed to the things that have been embellished or elaborated on.
The break in Noosa was arranged in advance of the Ashes tour and went ahead despite England falling 2-0 behind after two Tests.
While the entire squad was present in Noosa, former Kent and England batter Key was in another part of Queensland.
Players were told to expect media attention and were captured by TV cameras and photographers.
That included shots of some members of the squad drinking at an outside table of a bar on the main high street in the town.
"When you see a picture of five or six guys sitting down for lunch, a couple of them having drinks, you need to see what's going on with that," said Key.
If it's true that it became a stag do and people are out drinking all the time excessively, that's not acceptable. I don't agree with a drinking culture. I don't like a drinking culture.
Key also said he previously looked into reports that white-ball captain Harry Brook and batter Jacob Bethell were drinking the night before a match on the limited-overs tour of New Zealand that preceded the Ashes.
A clip of Brook and Bethell was shared on social media, reportedly taken in Wellington the night before the third one-day international on 1 November.
"I didn't feel like that was worthy of formal warnings, but it was probably worthy of informal ones," said Key.
"There wasn't any formal action. We've had four years where we've had none of these issues really, with any of the players, and there's a whole process that we put in place for stuff like that - for what you do if they're out of line.
That was a bit of a wake-up call for what they're going into. I don't mind players having a glass of wine over dinner. Anything more than that, I think is ridiculous.
Despite the questions over the behaviour of some players in Noosa, Key defended their right to take the break from the Ashes.
Brook, Bethell, Ben Duckett, Jofra Archer and others could spend almost six months away from home following the tours of New Zealand, Australia, and the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in the new year.
"Harry Brook is going to only be at home for six days this entire winter," said Key.
"We have to create a time where these players can get away from cricket because they're not going to do it by being at home.
"We live in an age as well where it's impossible to avoid cricket. I sit there on my phone and every Instagram thing comes up. I know that players say they shouldn't look at it, but they do.
You can't escape cricket, especially on an Ashes series and the scrutiny. Getting away and being able to just forget about that and live like a normal person is really important.
Paul Farbrace was part of England's coaching staff during the 2017-18 Ashes, where they lost 4-0.
Ben Stokes was ruled out on the eve of that series with the outcome of an affray charge for an incident in a Bristol nightclub still not known. He was later cleared.
A week into the tour, wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow was alleged to have headbutted Australia batter Cameron Bancroft, while later in the tour Duckett was dropped from the squad after pouring a drink over James Anderson.
Farbarce said the Australian media are "so aggressive" and "so in your face", but England should have expected that pressure before the series.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live about England and the drinking in Noosa, Farbrace said: "They are dopey. That is the bottom line.
"They've been outplayed, outfought and outplanned. Australia have done everything better than England.
"The Australian media cause as much issue for the England cricket team as they possibly can.
"It is the one big series that everyone hangs their hat on. The pressure from everyone around is intense and immense and you do need a break and you do need to switch off.
"But, let's be honest, going to sit in a middle of a high street with lots of people, right near the beach, drinking beers from lunchtime is not a good look. That's why I say they are dopey.
"They could have done it in private at their hotel or away from the glaring public eye and been a bit more sensible.
"As a coach, you are trying to find the right balance to keep the team in a good place and keep them fresh and ready, but it is a dopey look and it just adds to the narrative around this team that they are a very arrogant group of people and don't care what people think about them.
"They do care about winning, don't get me wrong, but they've given so many headlines to so many people. All they've done is set themselves up for a fall and it really is a great shame.
England are where they deserve to be in this series but their drinking has not cost them the series, that's the bottom line.
Source: BBC
Related Posts: California to investigate xAI over Grok chatbot images Real Estate Players Want Govt-Backed Subvention For Net-Zero Goal Bangladesh Cricket Board In Firefighting Mode After Players Threaten Boycott England's T20 World Cup 2026 preparations take major hit Bangladesh Cricket In Turmoil As Players Boycott BPL Sikhs in England protest alleged grooming of teen girl by 34-year-old Afghan man Players need social skills for World Cup - Tuchel FC Goa players Former Man Utd players Bangladesh players call off boycott
Novak Djokovic wasted no time reminding Melbourne why this stage still feels like home. Chasing an unprecedented 25th Grand Slam, the Serb opened his Australian Open campaign with a clinical 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 dismissal of Spain's Pedro Martinez on Monday
41 minutes ago
Senior Advocate Kalyan Bandhopadhyay, for West Bengal, says even admit cards issued by the West Bengal Secondary School Education are not being accepted. Mr. Sibal says the admit card is a written document and has to be accepted. Mr. Bandhopadhyay says even the economist and Nobel laureate Amartya
41 minutes ago
UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed's brief India visit highlights strong bilateral ties amid West Asia tensions, Gaza peace plan developments, and recent high-level diplomatic and defence engagements between New Delhi and Abu Dhabi. Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally welcomed United Arab Emirates
41 minutes ago
The duo blamed the decision-making of skipper Shubman Gill and head coach Gautam Gambhir for India's first-ever home ODI series defeat at the hands of New Zealand. While much of the cricketing world has focused on the batting heroics of Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, and Virat Kohli
41 minutes ago
The Africa Cup of Nations final descended into chaos on Sunday night — and FIFA president Gianni Infantino was quick to step in. Infantino condemned what he called “unacceptable scenes" after several Senegal players walked off the pitch in protest during the closing stages of their
41 minutes ago
A massive explosion at hotel in Kabul's Shahr-e-Naw Flower Street area on Monday, resulted in death of several people and wounding others, with the attack targeting Chinese nationals. Several people were killed, and others were wounded in a powerful explosion at a hotel in Kabul's Shahr-e-Naw
41 minutes ago
Novak Djokovic delivered a serving masterclass as he registered his 100th victory at the Australian Open with a straight-set win over Spain's Pedro Martinez. The world number four, who is bidding for a standalone record 25th Grand Slam singles title
41 minutes ago
New Delhi, Jan 19 (PTI) AI autonomy, 6G connectivity, and quantum mechanics are set to become the technology frontrunners and primary determinants of global enterprise competitiveness in 2026, marking a shift from digital experimentation to autonomous execution
41 minutes ago
A shooting at a town hall in northern Czech Republic on Monday (January 19, 2026) left one dead and four others wounded, including a police officer, police said. Police said the suspect was fatally shot and there was no further danger. The shooting took place at the Chribska town hall, police said
41 minutes ago
Virat Kohli's fielding error in the third and final ODI between India and New Zealand in Indore was nothing but a rare lapse of concentration. In a high-pressure game on Sunday, the incident took place during the first innings of the match when New Zealand were batting
41 minutes ago
The EU seeks engagement with the US following President Trump's threat of tariffs on several European nations over Greenland. While prioritizing calm and responsible leadership, the bloc is prepared to respond with available tools if the levies are imposed
41 minutes ago
Karnataka State Election Commission will use paper ballots for upcoming elections in five Bengaluru city corporations, following a state cabinet decision. This move comes after a nationwide campaign by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleging EVM rigging. The elections, mandated by the Supreme Court
41 minutes ago
US President Donald Trump has declared he will no longer prioritize peace after not receiving the Nobel Peace Prize. He also renewed his demand for control over Greenland. This statement followed a message from Norway's Prime Minister and Finland's President opposing his tariffs on European allies
41 minutes ago
The Supreme Court told the Election Commission to publish the names of 1.2 crore persons against whom the poll panel had raised “logical discrepancy” objections during the special intensive revision in West Bengal. The names should be displayed in gram panchayats
41 minutes ago
Punjab National Bank Ltd (PNB) for the third quarter ended December 31, 2025 reported 13.1% jump in net profit at ₹5,100 crore as compared with ₹4,508 a year ago. Gross Non-Performing Assets (GNPA) declined by ₹6,100 crore to ₹39,314 crore as on December 2025 from ₹45
41 minutes ago
Nitin Nabin is poised to be the next BJP national president. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a key proposer for his candidature. All nomination papers for Nabin have been found valid. The formal handover ceremony is scheduled for January 20 in New Delhi. Senior party leaders will attend the event
41 minutes ago
Imphal, Jan 19 (PTI) Nasscom director Nirupam Chaudhuri on Monday said artificial intelligence (AI) has become a democratic force, and its future will be written in both big cities, as well as small towns. Addressing a pre-summit event in the run-up to the upcoming India AI Impact Summit 2026
41 minutes ago
The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a series of urgent weather warnings across the United States, as dangerous cold, snow, strong winds and dense fog affect large parts of the country from Florida to the Great Lakes and Alaska. Florida faces rare freeze conditionsAccording to the NWS
41 minutes ago
Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar is set to attend the prestigious World Economic Forum in Davos, departing on Tuesday after initially pulling out due to commitments in Delhi and Bengaluru. Bengaluru: Days after cancelling his official tour to the Swiss Alpine town of Davos to take
41 minutes ago
Secret Conversation Feature On Messenger: Messages in secret chats are protected with end-to-end encryption, which means only you and the other person can see them, not even Facebook. Secret Conversation Feature On Messenger: It often begins with a late-night message or a photo shared in trust on
41 minutes ago
Some telecom companies in large European markets like Spain and Germany have earlier resisted implementing strict curbs on Chinese vendors, mainly due to cost concerns and reliance on existing infrastructure. New Delhi: The European Union is preparing to tighten its stance on Chinese-made equipment
41 minutes ago
Karan Aujla has extended his India tour to 12 cities while remaining in the spotlight over viral infidelity allegations that have sparked widespread public debate. Mumbai: Singer-songwriter Karan Aujla has announced the extension of his India tour amid the allegations surrounding infidelity
41 minutes ago
Captain Shubman Gill was candid in his assessment during the post match press conference, identifying a lack of clinical execution as the primary differentiator. The aura of invincibility that once surrounded Team India in home conditions has suffered a significant blow
2 hours ago
The death toll from a horrific fire at a shopping mall in Pakistan's Karachi has risen to 14 after rescue teams found eight more bodies from the building rubble. The fire, which broke out on Saturday (January 17, 2026) night at the Gul Plaza
2 hours ago
A legal notice has been sent to the makers of O Romeo by Hussain Ustara's daughter, Sanober Sheikh. In the notice, she claimed that she believes there is a wrong portrayal of her father in the Vishal Bhardwaj directorial. She has asked for compensation of Rs 2 crores to be paid within seven days
2 hours ago
Today Gold, Silver Rate January 19: Check 18, 22, 24 carat Gold prices in Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata Gold has been regarded as one of the safest investments for many years because it has a proven track record of preserving wealth during periods of inflation and market volatility
2 hours ago
Just weeks after being subjected to intense trolling and criticism over her song Candy Shop, singer Neha Kakkar has announced that she is stepping away from the spotlight for a while. The singer revealed that she is taking a break from both her personal and professional life
2 hours ago
