Controversy surrounds Ben Duckett following Ashes defeat

Dec 24, 2025
Sports

Photo: English cricketer unable to find his way due to intoxication, video goes viral (Collected)

Staff Report: PNN

Even before coping with consecutive losses in the Ashes series, the England cricket team is embroiled in a new controversy. Discussions and criticism have erupted on social media over a video showing English batsman Ben Duckett. The video allegedly shows him heavily intoxicated, though the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has not confirmed its authenticity.

The video, circulated on social media on Tuesday (23 December), is believed to have been recorded before the third Test. In the video, Duckett appears unable to provide his accommodation address while speaking with several people. At one point, someone mockingly suggests that he should call an Uber to go to net practice.

A few hours before the video surfaced, ECB Managing Director Rob Key announced a review of the team’s recent Sunshine Coast trip, which was not considered an official holiday by the ECB. The trip was planned a year ago by the head coach Brendon McCullum to mentally refresh players. No official practice schedule was organized during the four-day tour.

After the tour, England performed relatively better in the Adelaide Test but still lost by 82 runs, leaving Australia leading the five-match Ashes series 3–0 within just 11 days.

Before the fourth Test in Melbourne, Rob Key stated that the matter would be reviewed, although he claimed players’ behavior during the trip had been generally disciplined.

Despite being one of England’s key batters, Ben Duckett has struggled in the current Ashes series, scoring only 97 runs in three Tests with an average of 16.16, and a highest score of 29.