Ben Duckett dished up a cheeky response to jeers from fans inside the MCG during the Boxing Day Test.
The 31-year-old faced backlash last week after a video was published on social media, appearing to show him intoxicated on a night out during England’s much-scrutinised getaway to Noosa.
It emerged last week that ECB managing director Rob Key was launching an investigation into reports that England’s four-day trip to the Sunshine Coast tourist hotspot had descended into a beer-drinking ‘stag do’.
England skipper Ben Stokes had meanwhile called for ‘empathy’ after the video of Duckett went viral, stating that the opening batsman had his full support.
While Duckett has averaged 16.6 runs during this series, the batter maintained his place for the Boxing Day Test, and posted a score of 34 runs during England’s second innings to help the Bazballers snap their 15-year wait for a Test match win Down Under.
As expected, Duckett received a few jibes from the partisan Melbourne crowd while he was fielding on the boundary line, with one spectator heard shouting on a video published by Draught Sports on Instagram: ‘Duckett, you want a beer mate?’
Ben Duckett (pictured) dished up a cheeky response to jeers from fans inside the MCG during the Boxing Day Test
‘How was Noosa?’
The England star delivered a great response. After the ball had gone dead, he turned to the fans at the MCG, and gave them a thumbs up.
He then beckoned the fan to bring him a beer with his hand, while cupping his hands around an imaginary pint glass.
After the match, captain Stokes stated that he was proud of his embattled team for claiming victory, after his side faced heavy criticism for their off-field antics in the build-up to the fourth Test.
‘I think in particular, the couple of days in the build-up to this Test match, it was obviously a tough time for us as a team and certain individuals,’ the England captain said.
‘But the way in which we were able to keep the focus on the most important thing, which was the cricket out there, was pretty exceptional, I think.’
Duckett is yet to speak publicly on the matter.
On Christmas Eve, Stokes broke his silence on the matter by issuing his support to the Nottinghamshire batter.
Ben Stokes issued his support to Duckett (centre), urging people to show ’empathy’ after the video went viral
‘I know how it can affect people,’ he said. ‘It’s never a nice place to be in when not only the media world but also the social media world is just piling on top of you.
‘It’s a very tough place to be in as an individual. But I will always try my best to look after every single person in this group.
‘I’m the captain of the side and I’m very determined to go out and win the remaining two games.
‘Supporting them and letting them know that I will be there for them through thick and thin is very, very important, and Ben Duckett knows that.’
Meanwhile, Aussie batter Travis Head, who is good friends with Duckett, also revealed that he had reached out to check in on the English star after seeing the clip.
Speaking at Yarra Park on Sunday, the South Australian said: ‘I think [the video came] from one of his own as well. I reckon it was an English fan as well, which is a bit stiff.
‘I get along with Duckey well. Reached out to him to see if he was going alright.
‘Everyone’s still human, everyone’s still people, and what you do in your personal time is up to you. I know we live a high-profile life, and some people are more high-profile than others and get themselves in situations, but at the end of the day, it’s a bit stiff.’