The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is investigating the verification of a video appearing to show England opener Ben Duckett drunk.
Notably in the video, the English batter was also struggling to find his way back to the team hotel during the team’s break in Noosa.
It is worth noting that the English team went on a break after losing the second Test against Australia in Brisbane. The video emerged on X on Tuesday, hours after the team’s managing director, Rob Key, confirmed that an investigation would be done into the trip to Noosa, which came between the second and third Tests.
What happened with English players at Noosa?
The England squad visited the resort town of Noosa on the Sunshine Coast north of Brisbane between the second and third tests, a long-planned part of the itinerary designed to help players relax and unwind on the long tour.
A video emerged on Tuesday which appeared to show England’s opening batter Ben Duckett unable to remember how to get back to the hotel.
In the video posted on X, Duckett was apparently talking with a group of people. When a woman asked if he knew how to get home, he allegedly replied “No,” and the conversation then continued with Duckett appearing disoriented.
England Cricket Board’s statement on viral video
A statement from the ECB read on the viral video read:
We are aware of content circulating on social media. We have high expectations for behaviour, accepting that players are often under intense levels of scrutiny, with established processes that we follow when conduct falls below expectations. We also support players who need assistance. We will not comment further at this stage while we establish the facts.
Ben Duckett did not have a great Australia tour since he scored just 97 runs in six innings at an average of 16.16, with his best score of 29. Even Aussie pacer Mitchell Starc outscored him, a consistent Test batter.
The 31-year-old had also been part of a tour to Australia eight years ago, when he was in the English squad. Duckett was sent home and handed a fine and a suspension by the ECB for pouring a drink over veteran James Anderson at a bar in Perth.
Early clarification from ECB on reports of drunk players at Noosa
Before the viral video, the ECB had stressed that the four days spent at Noosa were not a holiday and were organised well in advance by head coach Brendon McCullum for refreshing the players.
Key, England’s managing director, did not accompany the team to Noosa and initially believed that the players had conducted themselves properly. Speaking at the MCG on Tuesday, Key said he would examine what actually happened during the break and decide whether any action was needed.
“If there are things where people are saying that our players went out and drank excessively, then of course we’ll be looking into that,” Key said.
Currently, England have lost the Ashes series to Australia 3-0, losing the iconic urn in just 11 days. While England put on a brilliant fight in pursuit of 435 runs at Adelaide, they were skittled out for 352, and their wait for an Ashes series win in Australia for the first time since 2010/11 continued.
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