Ashes 2025: Rob Key urges England not to be ‘stupid’ in Australia

England’s players have been urged “to be smart and not get caught doing stupid things” on the Ashes tour by managing director Rob Key.

Trips to Australia are notoriously hostile for visiting England teams, often accompanied by intense scrutiny.

In 2017-18, England’s Jonny Bairstow was accused of “headbutting” Australia batter Cameron Bancroft in a bar in Perth, the same venue where Ben Duckett, then of the England Lions, poured a drink over James Anderson.

Four years earlier, England were ridiculed in the Australian media for an 82-page document that detailed their dietary requirements.

Former England batter Key, who was part of the Ashes tour in 2002-03, said: “They’ve got to be smart, right? I hope they’re all listening to this, players, because it saves me sending a WhatsApp or an email and telling them ‘you’ve got to be smart’ – because when they get there, they’re not going to be anonymous.”

Speaking on the For The Love Of Cricket podcast, Key added: “I remember in 2002 Nasser Hussain doing the first press conference saying ‘we’ve got to catch all our catches, we can’t afford to be having to make 15, 20 opportunities an innings’, which is absolutely right.

“The next day at practice, the West Australian newspaper had pictures of John Crawley dropping a catch.”

This Ashes series is one of the most eagerly anticipated for years, coming 18 months after England and Australia drew a memorable series 2-2 in the UK.

England’s bid to win the Ashes for the first time since 2015, and triumph in Australia for the first time in 14 years, begins on 21 November.

England named their Ashes squad last week, with Will Jacks’ inclusion as the second spinner the only surprise.

On Tuesday, England named a Lions squad that will shadow the senior group in Australia. Rehan Ahmed, Jordan Cox and Sonny Baker have all been included.