England’s Ashes tour Down Under seems to be going downhill real quick after another player in the touring party was involved in a controversy.
Ben Duckett, who was recently added to the side which took on Cricket Australia XI in a two-day practice match in Perth, has been suspended for an alcohol-related incident during a team night-out on Thursday.
The 23-year-old had been a part of the England Lions squad which is touring Australia simultaneously with the national team and was drafted into the latter for the practice game.
He was set to open the innings for England against the Cricket Australia XI but has now been stood down by the team management following the incident on Thursday night.
Members of the England team including senior players like Joe Root and Jimmy Anderson are said to have been on a night-out in a Perth bar accompanied by team security when the incident is said to have taken place.
It is reported that Duckett poured a glass of beer over the head of pace spearhead Anderson before the team’s security stepped in to diffuse the tension.
England’s Ashes tour has already been marked with controversy following an incident revolving around Jonny Bairstow and Australia’s Cameron Bancroft before the first Test had even gotten underway.
Baristow’s incident had led a midnight curfew being imposed on England.
Post the details of that incident emerging later at the conclusion of the first Test at Brisbane, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) director Andrew Strauss had imposed a mid-night curfew on the team.
It is said that the curfew had been lifted in recent days to allow the team to relax leading to the team night-out in question.
Duckett will now face an inter-disciplinary hearing involving Strauss, head coach Trevor Bayliss and Lions coach Andy Flower late on Thursday.
Asked to confirm reports that Duckett had poured a drink over a senior player in a Perth bar, Bayliss nodded and replied: “I think that was the issue. It was boys being boys, I suppose, but totally unacceptable.”