Controversy Erupts After Ben Duckett & Jacob Bethell’s Nightclub Videos Surface Amid England’s Ashes Defeat

New Delhi: Amid England’s disappointing performance in the Ashes series, two players—Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell—have found themselves in the spotlight for off-field behavior, sparking widespread controversy. Videos showing the players vaping e-cigarettes and dancing at a nightclub have gone viral, raising questions about team discipline.

Videos Raise Concerns
In one video, Duckett appears frustrated while searching for his hotel room, prompting a passerby to jokingly ask if he needs a cab back to the training ground. Bethell’s videos, meanwhile, show him partying in a nightclub with an unidentified individual, vaping and dancing. These clips have drawn criticism for potentially affecting team focus during a high-profile series like the Ashes.

ECB Launches Inquiry
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) has taken note of the incident and initiated an investigation. Rob Key, Managing Director of England Men’s Cricket, confirmed that reports of excessive drinking during the team’s mid-series break in Noosa would also be reviewed. However, he dismissed suggestions of serious misconduct, emphasizing that the break was intended to give players rest during a long tour.

Key stated, “If there are claims that our players consumed excessive alcohol off-field, we will certainly investigate. Drinking in such quantities is not something I would expect from any international cricket team.”

The Ashes series has so far been dominated by Australia, who have won all three Tests played to date, making England’s off-field controversies a matter of concern for both fans and officials.