Travis backs rival Ben after 'drunk' video leak

TRAVIS

- By RORY DOLLARD

Head has revealed he sent a message of support to Ashes rival Ben Duckett after the England batter found himself on the end of a social media backlash.Unverified footage appearing to show an intoxicated Duckett in a tetchy late night conversation with a fan during the team's mid-series break in Noosa placed an unwanted spotlight on the opener.

Hours earlier, managing director Rob Key had called excessive drinking “completely unacceptable” and said he would be investigating reports of what happened on the trip.

England captain Ben Stokes publicly backed Duckett and called for “empathy” in an emotive press conference ahead of the fourth Ashes Test, and Head felt compelled to check in with an opponent he has got on well with ever since their time as Under-19s.

"I get along with Ducky well, I reached out to him to see if he was going alright,” he told reporters at the MCG after England's two-day win in the fourth Test.