A pair of local Aussie radio presenters have trolled Ben Stokes and England during the Bazballers’ sunny Noosa getaway, following their dismal start to the 2025 Ashes series.
Members of the Australian media have been particularly scathing of England’s decision to travel to the sunny Queensland tourist hotspot in the wake of their eight-wicket defeat by Australia at The Gabba.
And on Wednesday, the Bazballers congregated on Noosa Main Beach for a kick-about, but they were unable to escape the sledging after they were approached by two local Aussie radio broadcasters, dressed in full cricket whites, who were holding signs that read: ‘For sale, moral victories’ and ‘Bazballers anonymous free counselling.’
Their sledges were taken in good humour by England’s captain, Stokes, who laughed at the two Aussies as he stopped to enjoy a brief chat with the broadcasters and pose for a quick photo next to the presenters and their signs.
Broadcasters Archie Arenson and Henry Bretz, who work for the Queensland radio station 927mixfm, had spent the morning seeking out the touring cricket team, jokingly offering their services to help Stokes’ side after they suffered back-to-back eight-wicket defeats in both Perth and Brisbane.
In a video published on 927mixfm’s Instagram, the broadcasters were seen wandering around the tourist hotspot saying: ‘We simply want to help with these signs.
A pair of local Aussie radio presenters have trolled Ben Stokes (pictured) and England during the Bazballers’ sunny Noosa getaway
‘Hopefully, we’ll track them down and give them a much-needed hand in this Ashes series.’
The broadcasters were hilariously also seen asking members of the public if they knew where the England team were, saying: ‘We’re looking for some guys who can’t win at cricket?’
Finally, the pair managed to find the England stars, calling Stokes over for a chat, shouting: ‘We want to help!’
‘We were at Headingley, it was the best day of my life,’ one of the presenters was heard saying to Stokes.
‘I think we have just won England the Ashes,’ one of the presenters joked as they walked away from the group.
The England squad were out in full force on Wednesday, with the team congregating on the beach to play a game of ‘pig’. The cricketers are often seen playing the football game as part of their pre-match warm-ups, with the group gathering in a circle to knock a ball between each other.
England’s mid-series trip to Noosa had been planned before the Bazballers had touched down in Australia, but the move has ruffled a few feathers of some former players.
‘I don’t think I’d be going to Noosa. I’m a bit old-school, it’d be naughty boy nets,’ England great David Lloyd told BBC Sport following Sunday’s second Test defeat.
‘There are definite consequences to this. There always has been, there always will be.
‘There will be consequences and those start with those in charge.’
England will return to training in the coming week ahead of their must-win match at the Adelaide Oval, which begins on December 16.
Noosa is understood to be a favourite holiday destination for Brendon McCullum and his family when they stay in Australia. The Kiwi, who played for the Brisbane Heat, had also caused a stir on Sunday night when he bizarrely claimed that his side had ‘overprepared’ ahead of The Gabba Test.
England had spent five days in the nets before the second Test, but caught the ire of several greats, including Michael Vaughan, for opting out of a pink-ball warm-up in Canberra.
The tourists have found themselves in the spotlight after they were seen playing golf in the build-up to the Perth Test, while Stokes and several other stars risked landing in hot water with Queensland police after they were seen riding around Brisbane on e-scooters not wearing helmets – in contravention of the state’s road rules.
Australian newspaper, The West Australian, has been particularly scathing of the Bazballers since they arrived down under, first mocking Joe Root as a ‘dud root Down Under’, in reference to his struggles to score a century in Australia.
After the pictures of England on the beach dropped on Tuesday, the outlet wrote: ‘Already 2-0 down in the Ashes after just six days of cricket, the woeful Poms soaked up the Queensland sun in the latest leg of their summer pleasure jaunt Down Under.’
And it appears members of the Aussie squad have been watching on with eager eyes.
‘I think it’d be a nice holiday,’ Alex Carey said, dishing up a thinly veiled swipe at the Bazballers when asked about England’s trip to Noosa.
‘We’re in a pretty lucky position that we’re playing professional sport, and people want to follow the journey.
‘If the media likes to follow certain teams around, that’s totally up to them to do. We understand that comes with the privilege of playing the game.’
However, Carey admitted that it wasn’t uncommon for teams to take a few days off during the middle of the series, adding that the Aussie side will be taking a few days off to relax with their families or play golf.
‘For touring parties, you’ve got to find time to fill in those little windows, and Noosa’s not too far from Brisbane.
‘The Ashes is a very hotly contested contest and you don’t want to be thinking cricket every single day of the tour. If you do have a little break, it’s probably not a bad time to refresh the batteries.
‘Our boys played a bit of golf. I’m probably watching Netflix or taking the fishing rod away if I can.
‘It’s not new stuff that the English guys are doing, having a little break.’
Despite that, former England skipper Nasser Hussain couldn’t get his head around England’s scheduling for the tour, asking why the tourists haven’t played a single warm-up match against an Australian opponent.
‘I can’t understand England’s schedule for the week ahead,’ he wrote in The Athletic.
‘England will be going into the third Test without playing a single warm-up game against Australian opposition, and that is beyond me.
‘Stokes is not the first captain to come to Australia and struggle — and he won’t be the last.
‘History tells you it’s a hugely difficult place to win and this England team are finding that out themselves in the toughest way imaginable. Stokes and McCullum have tried a different way of doing things, but it’s just not paying off at the moment.’
There was also good news for Australian cricket fans on Wednesday after the Baggy Greens named Pat Cummins in the team’s 14-man squad for the third Test in Adelaide.
Cummins appears to have recovered from the back injury that ruled him out of his side’s victories against England in Perth and Adelaide.
It comes after selectors had claimed that spinner Nathan Lyon, who was left out of Australia’s side to play against England at The Gabba, would return to the side for the third Test.