The England Cricket Board (ECB) is looking for verification of their opening batter Ben Duckett’s video where he was seen drunk and unable to find his way back to the team hotel during the squad’s three-day break to Noosa between the second and third Ashes 2025/26 Test. The video has emerged on X, just hours after men’s managing director, Rob Key, confirmed that there would be an investigation.

They will look to check the behavior of the players, especially including Ben Duckett, into the trip to the Sunshine Coast resort town, which followed an eight-wicket lose in Brisbane that put them 2-0 down in the series. The plan for the break in Noosa beach, which the ECB called a holiday, was organized by head coach Brendon McCullum in advance, to make the players freshen up.

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England went on to put their best bowling in the first innings and batting in the second innings of the Adelaide Test. Still, they succumbed to an 82-run defeat to see the home side retaining the urn in the five-matches as the lose the Ashes in record 11 days.

ECB to investigate Ben Duckett’s drunk video

Duckett, who was decent with the bat in the home series against India in the longest format, couldn’t get the same touch back since that time, having not scored a single international half-century in the entire ODI and T20I series against New Zealand, followed by this Ashes 2025/26 trip.

“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.” Key spoke in the ECB statement.

The 31-year-old Duckett has managed only 97 runs in this series at an average of 16.16 with a top score of 29. He also had the tough Ashes for the Lions squad in 2017-18. During that period, he was sent home with a fine and suspension by the ECB for pouring a drink over James Anderson in the Avenue Bar in Perth.

James Anderson, the most successful fast bowler in Test cricket, will retire after the Test match against the West Indies at Lord’s. After retiring, he will join England’s coaching staff as a fast-bowling mentor.

At 41, Anderson is ending his long international career because England has decided to move forward without him. Rob Key, the managing director of England Cricket, highlighted Anderson’s value. “He has so much to offer English cricket. We don’t want to lose that,” said Key. “When we asked him, he was keen. He will have many options. English cricket would be lucky if he stays involved.”

Anderson current playing status and future with Lancashire

Anderson, who has taken 700 Test wickets, is currently playing for Lancashire against Nottinghamshire in the County Championship at Southport. His future with Lancashire is uncertain, but Key confirmed that Anderson will be with the England team “all summer.” “What he does with Lancashire will be decided after the Lord’s Test,” Key added. “We need to discuss what he thinks is best. So far, everything has been focused on this Test match.”

For the series against the West Indies, England has named a fresh-looking squad for the first two of the three Tests. Nottinghamshire pace bowler Dillon Pennington and Surrey’s Gus Atkinson, who has been in a Test squad but hasn’t played, have been called up. Ollie Robinson has been left out, and Mark Wood will miss the start of the series after the T20 World Cup.

In a surprising move, uncapped Jamie Smith will keep wicket instead of Jonny Bairstow and Ben Foakes. Shoaib Bashir replaces his Somerset teammate Jack Leach as the main spinner.

“Sometimes you select players for their potential and where you think they can progress,” said Key, a former England batter. “This is just the beginning for Jamie Smith. We believe he will be a fantastic international cricketer.”

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