Working The Ashes 2025-26 The tour has taken a dramatic turn EnglandShifting focus from on-field struggles to off-field conduct. after the Australia England’s opening batsman retained the Ashes in style ben duckett He has come into controversy after a video of him allegedly appearing drunk went viral on social media. The clip has sparked widespread debate and inspired England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) Launching an internal investigation into the team’s behavior during the scheduled break in the middle of the series.
England’s campaign in Australia has already been marked by heavy defeats and mounting criticism, and this latest episode has intensified scrutiny of a team struggling to deal with pressure both on and off the field.
Ben Duckett’s drunk video goes viral
The incident is linked to the four-day break taken by the England team in Noosa, Queensland between the second and third Tests. The break was sanctioned as a recovery window after England trailed 2–0 at the start of the series. Instead, reports show that claims of excessive drinking while traveling are increasingly making headlines.
Video that emerged on 23 December shows Duckett outside a shopping area, unsteady and engaging with members of the public. In a conversation, he has difficulty answering a simple question about finding his hotel. In another moment a fan is mocking England’s poor form, to which the batsman reacted angrily. The conversation, filmed on a mobile phone, quickly spread across all platforms, drawing sharp criticism from former players and supporters alike.
Here is the video:
What kind of behavior is this from Ben Duckett? He had completely lost his temper after drinking too much alcohol. Disappointing attitude. We need to be serious. pic.twitter.com/KVsCbv73jX
– Aryan Goel (@Aryan42832Goel) 23 December 2025
See also: Rohit Sharma takes cheeky dig at England after poor performance in Ashes 2025-26
ECB started investigation
The timing of the video has proven particularly damaging. Just hours earlier, England’s managing director of cricket rob key Noosa publicly acknowledged concerns about the player’s conduct during the break and promised to look into the matter. England lost the third Test in Adelaide, losing the Ashes 3–0 and leaving the rest of the series devoid of any competitive edge.
English cricket sources indicate that the ECB is taking the issue seriously and placing emphasis on maintaining professional standards during overseas tours. Although no disciplinary action has yet been confirmed, the board’s response is expected to set a precedent for future conduct policies.
Duckett’s struggle adds fuel to the fire
On the field, Duckett’s performances have done little to ease the pressure. Opening the batting, he has scored only 97 runs in the series so far, with a modest average of 16.16 and a highest score of 29. Their difficulties against Australia’s pace attack have mirrored England’s comprehensive batting collapse, making the off-field footage even more uncomfortable for the team management.
This is not Duckett’s first controversy in Australia. During the 2017–18 Ashes tour, he was temporarily suspended after pouring a beverage over a teammate’s head. james andersonAn incident that had raised questions about his judgment on the very first tour.
