Ben’s ready to duck and dive for england
WELL PLACED FOR T20 OPTION
Ben Duckett believes his alternative skill set could complement england’s big-hitters in the defence of their t20 World cup crown in June.
England have an abundance of batters who can clear the ropes with ease.
While duckett relies more on field manipulation and piercing the gaps rather than outright power, it can be no less effective.
Ben Stokes showed how valuable a T20 anchor can be during England’s 2022 triumph, but his request not to be considered in the Caribbean and united States this summer leaves the top and middle order short of left-handed options.
With dawid Malan out of favour, duckett, who has a strikerate of 145 in a dozen T20 internationals but has often been on the fringes of the set-up, could be a useful inclusion in England’s 15-strong squad.
“The beauty of what I do is different to a lot of guys,” said England’s Test opener.
“That aspect of not necessarily having the power, but I can use my skills to find ways to get on top.
“I’m 29 now and I’m not going to try to be someone I’m not, just to try to get into a side. I’ve worked out over the years if I become the best version of myself, that’s all I can be. Whatever opportunity I get in that group is something I’d take with both hands.
“If I don’t get picked then I don’t get picked. There is a list of players knocking on that door.
“It’s not like it’s me and a couple of others, there are 10 or 15 lads who could come into that side and perform at that level. That is the beauty of English cricket, so I guess we’ll see.”
England have four tune-up matches against Pakistan next month before flying to the Caribbean. unless summoned by captain Jos Buttler, above, and coach Matthew Mott, duckett will happily keep playing for Nottinghamshire ahead of England’s first Test this summer against West Indies at Lord’s, starting on July 10.
Their most recent assignment ended with a 4-1 series defeat in India and, although duckett acquitted himself fairly well, with a stunning 153 off 151 balls in Rajkot being the high point, he faced some backlash for suggesting England’s ‘Bazball’ style had influenced star opener Yashasvi Jaiswal.
The 22-year-old was named player of the series after two excellent double hundreds, but he had already cultivated a formidable reputation as an attack-minded dasher in the Indian Premier League.
Duckett feels his comments about Jaiswal were taken out of context but stood by his wider point that opposition teams, such as in last year’s Ashes, can look to fight fire with fire.
“It got completely blown out of proportion,” he said. “It was more the fact that against Australia, the pace we play the game at, at times we’ve seen opposition teams score a bit quicker because of that.”