The ongoing Ashes 2025–26 tour has taken a dramatic turn for England, shifting focus from on-field struggles to off-field conduct. In the aftermath of Australia retaining the Ashes in emphatic fashion, England opener Ben Duckett has landed in controversy after a video allegedly showing him intoxicated went viral on social media. The clip has sparked widespread debate and prompted the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to initiate an internal inquiry into the team’s behaviour during a scheduled mid-series break.
England’s campaign in Australia has already been marked by heavy defeats and growing criticism, and this latest episode has only intensified scrutiny on a squad struggling to cope with pressure both on and off the field.
Ben Duckett’s drunk video goes viral
The incident traces back to a four-day break taken by the England squad in Noosa, Queensland, between the second and third Tests. The break was sanctioned as a recovery window after England slipped to a 2–0 deficit early in the series. Instead, reports suggest the trip descended into excess, with claims of heavy drinking quickly making headlines.
The video, which surfaced on December 23, appears to show Duckett outside a shopping area, visibly unsteady and engaging with members of the public. In one exchange, he struggles to answer a simple question about finding his hotel. Another moment captures a fan mocking England’s poor form, prompting an angry verbal response from the batter. The interaction, filmed on a mobile phone, spread rapidly across platforms, drawing sharp criticism from former players and supporters alike.
Here’s the video:
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
Also WATCH: Rohit Sharma takes a cheeky dig at England after their poor show in Ashes 2025–26
ECB launches investigation
The timing of the video has proved particularly damaging. Just hours earlier, England’s managing director of cricket Rob Key had publicly acknowledged concerns about player conduct during the Noosa break and promised to look into the matter. England went on to lose the third Test in Adelaide, surrendering the Ashes at 3–0 and leaving the remainder of the series devoid of competitive edge.
Sources within English cricket indicate the ECB is treating the issue seriously, with an emphasis on maintaining professional standards during overseas tours. While no disciplinary action has yet been confirmed, the board’s response is expected to set a precedent for future conduct policies.
Duckett’s struggles add fuel to the fire
On the field, Duckett’s performances have done little to ease pressure. Opening the batting, he has managed just 97 runs across the series so far, averaging a modest 16.16 with a highest score of 29. His difficulties against Australia’s pace attack have mirrored England’s wider batting collapse, making the off-field footage even more uncomfortable for team management.
This is not Duckett’s first brush with controversy in Australia. During the 2017–18 Ashes tour, he was provisionally suspended after pouring a drink over the head of teammate James Anderson, an incident that had already raised questions about his judgement on tour.
