Former Australia coach and player Darren Lehmann has come out in defence of England cricketers amid accusations of them drinking heavily in Noosa during the break between second and third Ashes Tests.

The Ben Stokes-led side has conceded the Ashes urn in just 11 days, having suffered defeats in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide. With two games remaining, the Three Lions will have to buck up or face further humiliation of a 5-0 whitewash.

Amid the on-field debacle, the visitors are also facing backlash for excessive drinking, as reported by the Australia and English media. ECB’s director of cricket, Rob Key, has said that drinking accusations against the players would be investigated.

Lehmann, however, has dismissed the media claims, extending support to the under-fire touring cricketers.

“I was in Noosa and this bugs me. I am all for getting stuck into England. They haven’t played well enough, their preparation before the first game of the series (was not good) I get all that. But I was actually there. They were actually really well behaved. They mixed with the locals, had a good time,” Lehmann said on ABC Sport.

“The reports of them stagged is just wrong. They were polite and a delight to the people of Noosa, played golf, played soccer with the locals all that sort of stuff. They were well liked there.”

Lehmann went on to claim that the media is running an agenda against the England cricketers.

“I would defend them a bit because that’s just out of order. They are running a campaign against them almost and now Rob Key is doing what, a stag-do review or whatever they call it,” Lehmann remarked.

“I didn’t see that. I saw people relaxing, enjoying Noosa for what it is. It didn’t look good because what had happened previously but I have to come to their defence here because they are professional athletes and they are well behaved from what I saw.”

England will look to salvage some pride in the remaining two Tests at Melbourne (December 26-30) and Sydney (January 4-8).