Ben Duckett and James Anderson. (Photo Source: AAMIR QURESHI/AFP via Getty Images)
England opener Ben Duckett had an awful time when he thought his international career was gone after being fined and suspended for pouring an alcoholic drink over his fellow teammate James Anderson’s head during the 2017-18 Ashes series.
Duckett was representing England Lions when they visited Australia during the 2017-18 series and was attempting to force his way back into contention. He was, however, reprimanded by the English and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) for his action against Anderson at the Avenue bar, in Perth.
The then-head coach Head coach, Trevor Bayliss, was upset and at the point said that it was a fairly trivial incident, in the current climate, but it was just not acceptable. He added that everyone has been warned about how small things may be blown out of proportion and the ECB has been quite strict with the boys on their message.
Meanwhile, Duckett, who is playing his maiden Ashes series, spoke about the incident on BBC Radio Four’s ‘Today’ programme. He stated that he has never really spoken about it, but it was a crazy situation that was exaggerated. The 28-year-old added that nobody believed what he said, and he described it as the most awful time in his life.
“In a funny way I think it would have been applauded in this environment. I have never really spoken about it but it was a ridiculous situation that got blown out of proportion. What everyone thinks is basically not true – first, it wasn’t a beer it was vodka and lemonade I think. That was a really difficult time in my life. No one believed anything I said. I had to go away. It was the most awful time in my life,” Duckett said.
He went on to claim that he was worried that he’d never play for England again at the time, but that period made him a stronger person and has established himself in all three formats of the game.
“It made me a stronger person. I am certainly a lot more grown up now,” he added.
The incident with Ben Duckett was not malicious: Anderson
James Anderson also made it clear at the time that there were no hard feelings, describing the whole incident as “silly” in a column for the Telegraph. The 40-year-old further stated that the fine will most likely be more amusing than what they have spouted at him in that series. He added that the board will jump on anything to get at him, so he was expecting some lip.
“The incident with Ben Duckett was not malicious and was a bit of a non-event but we understand that in this climate we have to be smarter in the future. The frustrating thing is that what was a pretty silly incident would have gone unnoticed before but now puts an unfair question mark over our culture. I know Australia will use the Duckett incident as a way of goading us, or taking the mickey,” the famed Burnley Express stated.
“Fine. It will probably be funnier than what they have spouted at me so far in this series. They jump on anything to have a go at you so I am expecting a bit of lip. I have no problem with that,” Anderson concluded.