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England opener Ben Duckett has been facing criticism for not scoring a single half-century in the ongoing Ashes 2025-26. After the defeat at Adelaide Oval, Duckett’s alleged drunk video on the infamous Noosa trip went viral. He got Ben Stokes’ backing and retained his place in the playing eleven. While England won the fourth Test, he continues to be under the scanner. Australian opener Travis Head was asked to make a comment about Duckett’s viral video. Head had a cheeky reaction, saying he was ‘jealous’ but defended the English opener.
“Everyone else has made a lot more out of it than what it should have been,” he said. “We’ve done the same thing on past tours, so I didn’t have an issue with it.”
“Everyone’s still human. 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,” he added.
In Australia's second innings, Head was the top run-scorer. He scored 46 runs from 67 balls before getting knocked over by Brydon Carse. Australia were skittled for 132 in 34.3 overs. Duckett scored 34 runs from 26 balls in the run chase of 175. The Australian hard-hitter is disappointed to loose the Boxing Day Test but happy with how his team’s performance in the Ashes.
“It’s obviously disappointing waking up this morning having not won a Test match, when you feel like you’re having opportunities to put the game to bed,” Head reflected. “It’d be nice to go out on a winning note next week. We’ve played 13 days of Test match cricket. I think we were pretty good for 12.”
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Head on not playing on his birthday
Head will turn 32 on December 29. It seems to be the only silver lining of the two-day Test in Melbourne for him.
“Unfortunately, it’s just how it falls,” he said. “It’s my birthday tomorrow, so it’s nice to be off on my birthday for once.”
The fifth and final Test of the Ashes will commence on January 4 at Sydney Cricket Ground. Currently, Head is the top run-scorer of the series by far. From eight innings, he has 437 runs at an average of 54.62, including two centuries.
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