Drinking allegations sees Ben Duckett come under ECB scanner after video posted on X appears to show England batter worse for wear.
ECB investigating Ben Duckett video amid drinking allegations.
A video that seems to show England’s Ben Duckett intoxicated and unable to return to the team hotel during the team’s mini-break to Noosa between the second and third Ashes Tests is being investigated by the ECB.
Hours after men’s managing director Rob Key announced that an inquiry into the trip to the Sunshine Coast resort town will be conducted, which followed an eight-wicket defeat in Brisbane that put them 2-0 down in the series. The footage appeared on X (previously Twitter) on Tuesday.
Head coach Brendon McCullum had planned the four days in Noosa, which the ECB emphasised was not a holiday, a year in advance because he thought it would rejuvenate the players. Since there was no training planned during this time, many members of the team took advantage of the time off.
Australia built an unbeatable lead in the five-match series, holding onto the Ashes in just 11 days, while England went on to play their finest performance of the tour in Adelaide before losing by 82 runs. Prior to the fourth Test in Melbourne starting on Friday, Key said he would investigate the trip but thought the players had been “very well behaved” while speaking at the MCG.
A statement from the ECB 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 that need assistance.
“We will not comment further at this stage while we establish the facts.”