England star calls fan a 'p****' in footage from Ashes 'stag do' as ECB release statement - The Mirror

Footage has emerged of England star Ben Duckett slurring his words and calling a fan a 'p****' while in Noosa, where the team enjoyed a mid-series break before losing the Ashes

The ECB say that they are aware of a video circulating online in which England batsman Ben Duckett can be heard calling a fan who was mocking him a 'p****'. Duckett, 31, has come in for criticism after footage showed him struggling to get back to his hotel room during England's mid-Ashes break in Noosa.

Between the second and third Tests, both of which Australia won to help take an unassailable 3-0 lead and retain the Ashes, the tourists were given time off in the Australian beach town. But the pre-arranged trip reportedly turned into a glorified stag do, with players alleged to have drank for six days straight.

England managing director Rob Key has pledged to investigate the team's conduct and now Duckett is in the firing line. England's opener, whose average sits at a lowly 16 runs after three Tests, was filmed while seemingly drunk outside of a shopping centre.

Duckett can be seen talking to a group of fans, who ask: "Do you know how to get home?" The 31-year-old responds by saying: "No."

A fan then mocked Duckett's performances in the Ashes by asking: "Do you want me to get you an Uber to the nets, bro?"

"Probably for the best… we're losing 2-0," the Nottinghamshire ace replied. "See, thing is, you're, actually, like, he's a p***k."

Responding to the video, a spokesperson for the England and Wales Cricket Board told the Sun: "We are aware of content circulating on social media. We have high expectations for behaviour, accepting that players are often under intense levels of scrutiny, with established processes that we follow when conduct falls below expectations.

"We also support players that need assistance. We will not comment further at this stage while we establish the facts."

England chief Key had told Brendon McCullum's side to be on their best behaviour while Down Under. "We'll be looking into seeing what the facts are as opposed to the things that have been embellished or elaborated on," Key told BBC Sport.

"Headlines can be misleading at times, saying it's a stag do and stuff like that. Stories of players drinking six days solid - that's unacceptable."

The former England batter went on to say: "When you see a picture of five or six guys sitting down for lunch, a couple of them having drinks, you need to see what's going on with that.

"If it's true that it became a stag do and people are out drinking all the time excessively, that's not acceptable. I don't agree with a drinking culture. I don't like a drinking culture."

Ex-Australia player and former head coach Darren Lehmann said that he'd spent time with some England players in Noosa and described the stag do claims as 'just wrong.' "They were actually really well behaved. They mixed with the locals and had a good time," Lehmann told Australian radio station ABC.

"The reports of them on a stag do are just wrong. I will defend them there. They played golf, swam on the beach and played soccer with the locals - they were liked by the locals.

"I will defend them a little bit because it is a little bit out of order. I didn't see a stag do. I saw people just relaxing and enjoying Noosa for what it is."