Australian batsman Travis Head has disclosed that he personally checked on the welfare of England's Ben Duckett after a video of the English player, appearing to show him intoxicated on a night out during the Ashes tour, spread rapidly online last week.
Scrutiny and Support During the Ashes Series
The England team has faced considerable scrutiny throughout this Ashes series, with reports suggesting their mid-series break in Noosa resembled a boozy 'stag do'. Duckett himself has found runs hard to come by in the Tests, though he contributed a valuable 34 runs in England's second innings during the recent Melbourne match.
That contribution helped England secure a landmark victory at the MCG, snapping a 15-year wait for a win on Australian soil. The Boxing Day Test itself was a whirlwind affair, concluding in less than two days. With day three cancelled, Australian players, including Head, returned to Yarra Park to meet disappointed fans.
"I'm Jealous": Head's Take on the Noosa Trip
Speaking afterwards, Head, who is friendly with Duckett, was asked about the England squad's controversial trip to Noosa. "I'm jealous," he replied with a laugh, before adding, "Everyone else has made a lot more about it than it should have been. We've done the same thing on past tours. I don't have an issue with it."
The South Australian expressed sympathy for Duckett's situation, revealing he felt compelled to reach out. "Yeah, stiff, I think [the video came] from one of his own as well. I reckon it was an English fan, which is a bit stiff," Head said. "I get along with Duckey well. Reached out to him to see if he was going alright."
He emphasised the human element behind the headlines: "Everyone's still human... what you do in your personal time is up to you. I know we live a high profile life... but at the end of the day, it's a bit stiff." Head suggested the story gained traction due to a quiet period in the series, quipping, "when there's big gaps in Tests, [you've] got to find something to talk about."
A Historic and Swift MCG Victory
The match that prompted these reflections was a record-breaker. Chaos ensued on day one with 20 wickets falling, a feat not seen in a single day of an Australian Test match since 1951. England proceeded to wrap up a four-wicket victory after a mere 852 balls were bowled in total.
This made it the shortest-ever Test at the MCG since Australia's clash against South Africa in 1932, which lasted only 656 deliveries. A proud England captain Ben Stokes hailed his team's resilience, stating the win felt "special" after many difficult tours.
He specifically referenced the tough build-up for the team and certain individuals, saying, "The way in which we were able to keep the focus on the most important thing, which was the cricket out there, was pretty exceptional I think." His comments followed an earlier plea for "empathy" for Duckett, whom he described as an important squad member.
The England and Wales Cricket Board's managing director, Rob Key, had previously stated that the reports of heavy drinking in Noosa would be looked into.
