Published: Dec 10, 2017, 08:39 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 10, 2017, 08:39 PM (IST)
England Lions’ opener Ben Duckett has been fined and suspended for the remaining matches in Australia following his bar prank in Perth. The 23-year-old left-hander poured beer over England current Test vice-captain James Anderson, and has been left out of English a development team’s two-day match against Cricket Australia on Saturday. In addition, Duckett received a final written warning by ECB.
The incident took place on Thursday when the Ashes tourists returned to the bar wherein Jonny Bairstow had earlier delivered his ‘headbutt’ greeting to Australia’s Cameron Bancroft. The board confirmed Duckett’s punishment in a brief statement on Sunday. Nonetheless, he will still be a part of Lions’ squad and return home as per schedule (December 17).
“Following a disciplinary hearing with England Lions player Ben Duckett, ECB can confirm the following measures have been placed on the player. Fined the maximum allowable amount for an England Lions player. Suspended from playing for the rest of the current Lions Australian training camp. Issued with a final written warning in respect of his conduct as an England player. Duckett will remain with the England Lions party in Australia and will return to England at the end of the camp on December 17”, the statement read.
Preview
Duckett and his fellow Lions members were joined by around 10 players from Ashes squad hours after trailing 0-2 to Australia ahead of the Perth Test.
What’s wrong, England?
Duckett’s drink-related antics have, thus, taken place in the middle of England losing the first two Tests in the Ashes. They are already missing the services of all-rounder Ben Stokes who was involved in an infamous Bristol brawl episode in September 2017. His participation is yet to be known.
