During England’s troubled Ashes tour in Australia, Duckett, then part of the Lions squad, faced intense scrutiny when he poured a drink on Anderson. The England Cricket Board (ECB), already on edge from other off-field controversies, penalized Duckett, fearing a further tarnish on their reputation. This led to a fine and suspension for Duckett, who feared his England career might be over.
Duckett, speaking on The Final Word podcast, clarified that Anderson had thrown a drink on him first and encouraged him to reciprocate, but the incident was misinterpreted by security and the media. Reflecting on the difficult time, Duckett said, “It was a really tough time… when you’re in Australia, you’re not getting much sympathy from anyone.”
Since then, Duckett has emerged as an England regular across all formats. He credits the setback for building his resilience, adding, “In a weird way, I wouldn’t change much of it. Where I am right now, when I play for England, it’s like I don’t want to give that shirt to anyone else.”
With over 1,980 runs in Tests since his return in 2022, Duckett is set to be a cornerstone for England’s future, across both red and white-ball cricket.
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