Ben Duckett Archives

ECB probes Ben Duckett viral video amid drinking allegations

LONDON: The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is set to investigate an alleged video of Ben Duckett, which went viral after he reportedly got lost on his way back to the team hotel.

The alleged video emerged on the X platform on Tuesday, just after England men’s managing director Rob Key said that there would be an investigation into the Three Lions refreshing trip during the break between Second Ashes Test.

England took a four-day break in Noosa, a beautiful Sunshine Coast resort town in Queensland, which was booked by head coach Brendon McCullum a year in advance for players’ refreshment.

However, things turned ugly as England lost their third Test in a row, handing Australia the Ashes with two matches still to play.

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Following the video, the ECB confirmed the probe and noted that they will follow the necessary protocols for a thorough investigation.

“We are aware of content circulating on social media,” the board said.

“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,” it added.

“We will not comment further at this stage while we establish the facts.”

For the unversed, Ben Duckett is going through a poor run in the Ashes, managing just 97 at an average of 16.`16 with a highest score of 29.

Notably, this is not the first time the 31-year-old has been under scrutiny for disciplinary conduct.

Eight years ago, Duckett, who was part of the Lions squad for the 2017-18 series, was sent back home with a fine and a suspension by the ECB for pouring a drink over James Anderson.

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Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley break England’s longstanding record against India

LONDON: England’s opening pair Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley created history on Friday after setting a new opening record here at the Oval in the fifth Test of the series against India.

The opening pair provided England a belligerent start after bundling out the visitors for a modest 224-run total.

Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett added 92 runs for the first wicket in just 12.5 overs. With this stand, the opening pair surpassed Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss to record the most runs as a pair against India.

Cook and Strauss have opened for England for six years from 2006 to 2012, amassing an overall of 4711 runs in 117 innings. England’s most successful opening pair notched up 12 century stands and 18 half-centuries in that period at an impressive average of 40.96

Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett have so far amassed 984 runs as an opening pair in 18 innings, whereas Cook and Strauss had scored 932 runs in 20 innings against India.

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Additionally, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett levelled with the former West Indies opening pair of Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes for most half-century stands against India in Test cricket.

The duo have stitched together eight 50-plus opening stands against India.

Meanwhile, Akash Deep ended the brisk opening stand with Ben Duckett, who fell after making 42 off 38 balls with the aid of two maximums and five fours.

In a short time, Zak Crawley was also removed, making 64 off 57 balls, reducing the home side to 129-2 in pursuit of India’s first innings total.

It is pertinent to note that India is trailing 2-1 in the series and needs a win to level the series, whereas a draw will hand the England Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

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Crawley and Duckett run riot before India hit back in fourth Test

Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett got England off to a flying start in their first innings of the fourth Test before India ensured both openers fell agonisingly short of centuries.

England were 225-2 at stumps on the second day at Old Trafford, a deficit of 133 runs, after they dismissed India for 358, with captain Ben Stokes taking five wickets and an injured Rishabh Pant making a gutsy fifty for the tourists.

The hosts are 2-1 up in this five-match contest, and a win in Manchester would see England clinch the series ahead of next week’s finale in London at the Oval.

Crawley (84) and Duckett (94) shared an opening stand of 166 — just the duo’s fifth century partnership in 53 Test innings together.

The inconsistent Crawley, labelled the “luckiest player to have won as many England caps as he has” by 2005 Ashes-winning skipper Michael Vaughan, played some trademark stylish drives, but he also survived a confident lbw appeal on 26 from Mohammed Siraj after offering no stroke to the fast bowler.

Crawley, however, fell frustratingly short of what would have been merely his sixth century in 58 Tests when he nicked Ravindra Jadeja to slip, where KL Rahul held a fine low catch.

It was the end of a sparkling 113-ball innings, featuring 13 fours and a six. Duckett was no slouch either, taking three fours off debutant Anshul Kamboj’s first over in Test cricket.

Kamboj was only in the side after fellow paceman Nitish Kumar Reddy was ruled out due to a knee injury suffered during England’s dramatic 22-run win at Lord’s last week.

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But Duckett also flicked Jasprit Bumrah, the world’s top-ranked Test bowler, off his pads for two fours in three balls.

The left-hander was eyeing his second hundred of the series, following a brilliant 149 in England’s five-wicket win in the first Test at Headingley, when he edged an intended cut off Kamboj to reserve wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, deputising for the injured Pant.

As Kamboj celebrated his maiden Test wicket, a crestfallen Duckett trudged off with England 197-2.

Pant returned to action earlier Thursday after a severe foot injury.

The vice-captain had to retire hurt on 37 during Wednesday’s opening day when struck a painful blow on the foot attempting an audacious reverse-sweep off a Chris Woakes yorker.

After Shardul Thakur fell to Stokes for 41, leaving India 314-6, Pant slowly made his way down the dressing room steps and out into the middle.

The left-hander’s movements were restricted, but runners are no longer allowed in international cricket.

However, there was nothing Pant could do as Stokes cleaned up the tail at the other end.

When Kamboj was caught behind off the England skipper for a duck it meant Stokes had his first five-wicket haul in a Test since a career-best 6-22 against the West Indies at Lord’s in 2017.

The all-rounder finished with 5-72 in 24 overs, a fine return after his future as a lively medium-pacer was threatened by repeated hamstring trouble.

Pant reached his half-century in 69 balls, including a pulled six off Jofra Archer despite his lack of mobility, before he was bowled by the paceman for 54.

India resumed earlier on Thursday on 264-4 and, in overcast, bowler-friendly conditions, soon slumped to 266-5 as Archer struck with just his fifth ball of the day, an excellent delivery inducing Jadeja, on a run of four successive fifties, to edge low to second slip where Harry Brook held a sharp low catch to remove the all-rounder for 20.

Stokes went against history by sending India into bat on Wednesday. No team winning the toss and bowling first has ever won a Test at Old Trafford.

But India needs to make history of their own if they are to maintain their hopes of a series victory, as they have never won a Test at Old Trafford.

The fifth India-England Test will be played at the Oval on 31 July.

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Ben Duckett reveals game plan against Jasprit Bumrah after Headingley heroics

England opener Ben Duckett has revealed the strategy behind his success against India ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah after being named the ‘Player of the Match’ for his 149 runs in the opening Test at Leeds.

Ben Duckett made 62 in the first innings, followed by a 149 off 171 deliveries, peppered with 21 boundaries and a six while chasing an imposing 371-run total.

With Duckett’s sublime knock, England chased down the target with five wickets in hand and leading the five-match series 1-0.

The 30-year-old, who made a comeback to the England side in December 2022, has accumulated 2,511 runs at an impressive average of 47.37 in 30 Test matches.

Following the match, Ben Duckett revealed the strategy behind his success against threatening Jasprit Bumrah, who went wicketless in India’s second innings.

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“It was pretty obvious Jasprit was a big threat of theirs,” he said. “It was about realising whenever he came on it was going to be a short, sharp burst, trying to see him off and not necessarily playing any big shots, Duckett added.

The southpaw emphasized seeing off Bumrah, noting that it’s about taking your pride out of things.

“It’s just realising that and taking the ego out of things. When he’s coming on, it’s to get the breakthrough, get me out, and if you get through that period it gets easier.”

Ben Duckett credited the change of mindset behind his success after making a comeback.

“My mindset personally is a bit different to what it has been over the last couple of years,” the Kent-born batter told reporters.

“Potentially there’s a bit of maturity kicking in. Playing more Test matches, learning from mistakes, is number one. Failures are easy to make changes and learn from, rather than just when you do well,” Ben Duckett said while highlighting the importance of learning from failures.

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Ben Duckett shines as England clinch rollercoaster Test win over India

LEEDS: Ben Duckett’s sublime knock and Joe Root’s composed half-century sealed a thrilling win for England over India in the opening Test of the five-match series here at the iconic Headingley on Tuesday.

Chasing a daunting 371-run target on day five, England hit the winning runs on the loss of five wickets, with Joe Root remaining not out on 53 runs, while Jamie Smith contributed an unbeaten 44 runs.

The victory marked the second-highest run chase at Headingley, surpassing the previous record of 362-2 against Australia in the 2019 Ashes.

England started the final day’s proceedings with 21-0, requiring another 350 runs to secure a memorable victory against India.

The opening pair of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett batted superbly for a record 188-run stand. Both batters dominated the Indian bowlers, as the visitors put on a poor fielding display.

Ben Duckett, who scored a sublime century, broke the record for the highest runs against India in the fourth innings of a Test match. Previously, Joe Root had held the record with an unbeaten 142* at Edgbaston in 2022.

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With the mammoth stand, England were in command of a daunting 371-run chase despite wickets falling in a heap. Crawley and Duckett successfully held off the Indian bowlers until lunch, scoring quickly as the home side reduced the target.

However, India pacer Prasidh Krishna brought the visitors back into the game with back-to-back wickets in a short period.

Krishna first removed Zak Crawley, who made 65 off 126 deliveries, laced with seven boundaries. In the span of only two balls, he also sent back Ollie Pope, reducing England to 206-2.

With England requiring 188 more runs, Shardul Thakur dismissed Ben Duckett and Harry Brook on back-to-back deliveries. Duckett, who made 149, was caught while Brook was sent back for a golden duck.

At tea, England were 269 for 4, needing 102 more runs. Ben Stokes (13) and Joe Root (14) remained not out, with India searching for more wickets.

For India, Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur claimed two wickets each while Ravindra Jadeja picked up one wicket.

Earlier, India were bundled out for 364 runs in their second innings with England triggering a lower-order collapse.

READ: Ben Duckett shatters multiple records with century against India

Ben Duckett shatters multiple records with century against India

LEEDS: England opener Ben Duckett has shattered multiple records with his sublime 149-run knock against India in the ongoing first Test here at Headingley on Tuesday.

Duckett, who scored a sublime century, broke the record for the highest runs against India in the fourth innings of a Test match. Previously, Joe Root had held the record with an unbeaten 142* at Edgbaston in 2022.

In addition to this, Duckett also became only the second opener after Alastair Cook to score consecutive half-centuries at the iconic Headingley cricket ground. Previously, former England captain Alastair Cook had achieved this feat at this iconic ground.

The 30-year-old is also the first England opener to score a fourth innings century since Cook against Bangladesh at Mirpur in 2010.

The mammoth 188-run stand between the openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett also tumbled multiple records. The partnership that cruised England is the highest fourth innings stand against India.

Moreover, this is also the highest opening stand in a fourth innings of a Test match in England. Previously, England’s Geoffrey Boycott and Mike Brearley put on a 154-run partnership against Australia in 1977.

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With the mammoth stand, England were in command of a daunting 371-run chase despite wickets falling in a heap. Crawley and Duckett kept Indian bowlers at bay till lunch, scoring briskly as the home side brought down the target.

However, India pacer Prasidh Krishna brought the visitors back into the game with back-to-back wickets in a short period.

Krishna first removed Zak Crawley, who made 65 off 126 deliveries, laced with seven boundaries. In the span of only two balls, he also sent back Ollie Pope, reducing England to 206-2.

With England requiring 188 more runs, Shardul Thakur dismissed Ben Duckett and Harry Brook on back-to-back deliveries. Duckett, who made 149, was caught while Brook was sent back for a golden duck.

At tea, England were 269 for 4, needing 102 more runs. Ben Stokes (13) and Joe Root (14) remained not out, with India searching for more wickets.

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Ben Duckett creates history against Australia, breaks Sachin Tendulkar’s record

LAHORE: England opening batter Ben Duckett shattered a 21-year-old record with his incredible ton in their Champions Trophy 2025 opening game against Australia on Saturday, here at the Gaddafi Stadium.

The left-handed batter broke New Zealand’s Nathan Astle’s 21-year-old record of the highest individual score in the Champions Trophy. The batter also surpassed the likes of top Indian batters Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly.

Duckett registered the highest-ever individual score in the Champions Trophy, breaking Astle’s 21-year-old record when he scored an unbeaten 145* against the USA in 2004.

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The southpaw scored a majestic 165 off 142 deliveries, laced with 17 fours and three sixes, before being dismissed in the 47th over.

His innings helped England post a massive total of 352 runs for the loss of eight wickets in 50 overs.

Highest individual scores in Champions Trophy history

Batter Total Opposition (Year)

Ben Duckett 165 Australia (2025)

Nathan Astle 145* USA (2004)

Andy Flower 145 India (2002)

Sourav Ganguly 141 South Africa (2000)

Sachin Tendulkar 141 Australia (1998)

The opener also broke his compatriot Kevin Pietersen’s record for highest individual score against Australia in ICC event. Pietersen had previously scored 104 in the 2007 ODI World Cup in Antigua.

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England’s mammoth total of 351/8 also set a new record for the highest team total in the marquee event’s history, breaking New Zealand’s long-standing record of 347/4, set against the USA in 2004.

Highest Team Totals in Champions Trophy History:

England — 351/8 vs Australia, Lahore 2025
New Zealand — 347/4 vs USA, The Oval 2004
Pakistan — 338/4 vs India, The Oval 2017
India — 331/7 vs South Africa, Cardiff 2013
England — 323/8 vs South Africa, Centurion 2009

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England batter faces injury scare ahead of Champions Trophy 2025

England batter Ben Duckett faced an injury scare in the third One Day International against India ahead of the highly-anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025, set to commence on 19 February in Pakistan.

India hammered England in the third ODI by 142 runs and swept the series 3-0 on Wednesday, courtesy of Shubman Gill’s sparkling century.

The visitors finished the horrible tour with only one victory across three ODIs and five T20 Internationals.

The left-hand batter, who scored 34 off 22 balls in the last match of the disastrous tour for England, limped severely after the first innings. This added to the team’s ongoing injury concerns.

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According to the reports, the 30-year-old opener tweaked his groin toward the end of the Indian innings. Duckett, who scored 65 in the second ODI and showed good form on the tour, has been the mainstay for England in both white-ball and red-ball matches over the two years.

It is also pertinent to mention that England’s team is already facing injury scares as their pace bowlers, Jofra Archer, Brydon Carse, and Jamie Overton were sidelined from the match due to niggles in hot conditions, adding to team challenges.

Moreover, England’s emerging all-rounder Jacob Bethell has already been ruled of the ICC Champions Trophy after sustaining a hamstring injury on a recently completed India tour.

Furthermore, their wicket-keeper batter, Jamie Smith has also sustained a calf injury and was unavailable for the ODI series.

For the unversed, England will kick off their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign against Australia in Lahore on February 22 before playing Afghanistan at the same venue four days later.

They will then face South Africa in Karachi on March 1.

The ninth edition of the ICC Champions Trophy will kick off on 19 February, with host and defending champions Pakistan taking on New Zealand in the curtain-raiser in Karachi’s National Bank Stadium.

The eight-team tournament will consist of 15 matches over 19 days and will take place in Pakistan and Dubai.

England’s updated Champions Trophy squad:

Jos Buttler (c), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Saqib Mahmood, Phil Salt, Mark Wood

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Ben Duckett reveals England’s strategy for Multan Test remainder

MULTAN: Left-handed opener Ben Duckett on Wednesday, revealed England’s plans to force a result in the ongoing first Test against Pakistan, stating that his side eyes to secure a “significant lead”.

The first Test of the three-match series between Pakistan and England, currently underway at Multan Cricket Stadium, is heading towards a draw as the touring side are still trailing by 64 runs in the first innings.

Opting to bat first, Pakistan piled up a humongous 556 all out on the back of centuries from skipper Shan Masood, Abdullah Shafique and Salman Ali Agha.

England, famous for their aggressive approach in Test cricket, in response, dominated Pakistan bowlers and came in touching distance to the home side’s first innings total by accumulating 492/3 by the end of the third day.

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Experienced batter Joe Root was unbeaten on 176 while batting prodigy Harry Brook was well set on 141.

Meanwhile, England’s opening batter Ben Duckett expressed his optimism that the visitors will try to force a result and pinned high hopes on the deteriorated day five pitch.

“I think we will keep batting tomorrow as well. We have a whole day. We need to go past their score with a significant lead and then we will have one day to bowl them out on a day five pitch that might give us some spin and inconsistent bounce,” said Duckett.

Ben Duckett, who could not open the innings yesterday due to a finger injury, played a pivotal role in England’s fightback with a 75-ball 84 which featured 11 boundaries.

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Root, Brook put England in commanding position against Pakistan

MULTAN: A marathon unbeaten fourth-wicket partnership between centurions Joe Root and Harry Brook put England into a dominant position against Pakistan at the Stumps on the third day of the first Test here at Multan Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

The touring side enjoyed a commanding session of play as they piled up 141 runs to get to 492/3 with Root closing in on a double century. The touring side are still trailing by 64 runs.

Root, unbeaten on 176 and Brook, 141 not out, will resume England’s first innings on the fourth day, while Pakistan will look for quick wickets.

England also dominated the second session as they had reached 351-3, trailing by 205 runs, with Root (119) and Brook (64) on the crease.

Pakistan got rid of dangerous Ben Duckett early in the second session with Aamir Jamal providing the breakthrough. The left-hander played a quick-fire knock of 84 runs from 71 balls, laced with eleven boundaries.

Root was joined by Brook and together they added an unbeaten 110 runs in 133 balls for the fourth wicket until the umpires called the Tea on Day 3.

England scored 232-2 at Lunch on Day 3 with Ben Duckett and Joe Root on the crease with scores of 80 and 72 respectively.

Pakistan got the early breakthrough in the morning as they removed set England batter Zak Crawley, who was playing at 78 runs from 85 balls.

However, following the dismissal, Duckett joined Root and together they attacked Pakistan bowlers, constructing a 119* run stand for the third wicket in 124 balls.

Duckett, who could not open the innings yesterday due to a finger injury, particularly played aggressively with a strike-rate of over 100. Meanwhile, the in-form Root continued to show his elegant strokeplay.

At the Stumps on Day 2, England were 96/1 with Crawley, unbeaten with a run-a-ball, 64 and Joe Root, 32 not out, at the crease.

The touring side had a shaky start to their first innings as they lost their interim captain Ollie Pope for a two-ball duck.

But Crawley made an astounding recovery for England with a brisk knock while Root played cautiously until the end of the play.

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Returning Aamir Jamal claimed the solitary wicket for Pakistan on the second day.

Prior to that, Pakistan lost their two wickets in quick succession in the third session after piling up a mammoth 556-run total on the board.

Abrar Ahmed (3) was the last wicket to fall, falling prey to part-time bowler Joe Root. Prior to that, Shaheen Shah Afridi, who scored a crucial 26 runs, was bowled by Jack Leach.

Salman Ali Agha remained unbeaten at 104 runs from 119 balls, which featured ten boundaries and three sixes.

Meanwhile, Pakistan captain Shan Masood top-scored with a marathon 151-run knock from 177 deliveries, featuring 13 fours and two sixes.

Opening batter Abdullah Shafique also played a brilliant innings of 102 off 184 deliveries, laced up with a dozen boundaries including two sixes.

Shan opted to bat first after winning the toss and came out to bat in the fourth over after Saim Ayub (4) fell to Gus Atkinson.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel (vc), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Shaheen Afridi, Naseem Shah, and Abrar Ahmad.

England: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, and Shoaib Bashir.

READ: Joe Root surpasses Alastair Cook to claim all-time England record