Overview:
Despite England delivering their most competitive performance of the tour in Adelaide, they still slipped to an 82-run loss, allowing Australia to clinch the series and clinch the Ashes.
The ECB is investigating a video circulating online that appears to show England batter Ben Duckett intoxicated and struggling to make his way back to the team hotel during the squad’s break in Noosa between the second and third Ashes Tests.
The clip surfaced on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, shortly after managing director Rob Key confirmed that the team’s visit to the Sunshine Coast resort would be reviewed. The trip came after England’s eight-wicket defeat in Brisbane, which left them trailing 0-2 in the series.
The ECB clarified that the four days in Noosa were not intended as a holiday, but were part of a planned break organised a year in advance by head coach Brendon McCullum, who felt the pause would help refresh the squad. Several players made the most of the free time, with no training sessions scheduled throughout the break.
What is this behaviour from Ben Duckett😭😭. He was completely out of his mind after drinking a lot. Disappointing Attitude. We need to be serious. pic.twitter.com/KVsCbv73jX
— Aryan Goel (@Aryan42832Goel) December 23, 2025
Despite England delivering their most competitive performance of the tour in Adelaide, they still slipped to an 82-run loss, allowing Australia to clinch the series and clinch the Ashes in just 11 days. Speaking at the MCG ahead of Friday’s fourth Test in Melbourne, Rob Key confirmed the break in Noosa would be reviewed, although he maintained that the squad had conducted themselves “very well”.
“We are aware of the footage currently circulating on social media,” the ECB said in a statement.
“We set strong standards for player conduct, while recognising they operate under significant public scrutiny. When behaviour doesn’t meet those standards, we have clear procedures in place to address it, and we are equally committed to supporting any player who needs help. At this moment, we will refrain from further comment until the full facts are established.” ECB added.
Ben Duckett, who has previously been one of England’s performers with the bat, has struggled throughout this Ashes campaign. He has only accumulated 97 runs at an average of 16.16, placing him last among England’s frontline batters in both total runs and average, with 29 being his highest score so far.
This series isn’t the first time Duckett has been involved in controversy on an Ashes tour. During the 2017–18 campaign with the England Lions, he was fined, suspended, and ultimately sent home by the ECB after an incident in Perth, where he threw a drink over James Anderson at the Avenue Bar.
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