The Ashes 2025: Stuart Broad says England do not have a drinking problem

England started their white-ball tour of New Zealand on 18 October, with multi-format players then heading straight to an Ashes series that lasted from 23 November to 7 January.

England will tour Sri Lanka from 22 January, playing both one-day and T20 internationals, leading into a T20 World Cup campaign that starts on 8 February and could last a month.

“As an international player, you need some sort of release,” said Broad.

“If you don’t have that mental switch off – I know you [fellow podcast host Jos Buttler] say footballers don’t – but cricketers are away six months of the year in hotels, it drives you mad if you don’t do anything.

“We’ve seen Australia winning the Ashes, Travis Head’s had the time of his life, living the dream, doing interviews on the wines and all sorts.

“Twelve o’clock, you’re not really getting to that time that often, but if you win, you deserve to probably go and relax and enjoy yourself.”

Buttler, who will play under Brook in the forthcoming white-ball fixtures, said: “A lot of it is optics as well.

“You’ve got to be so aware. Your team-mates look after you, also, you’ve got to look after yourself. There may be some more senior players who are more aware of how to do that.

“That is a price you do pay for being an international cricketer and playing for England – you can’t just go and do whatever you want.

“You’re professional, you have to live a professional life, which the boys do, and you have to make it look that way as well.”