DUCKETT’S KNOCKING ON TEST OPENER DOOR
BEN DUCKETT staked his claim to open England’s batting alongside Alistair Cook after impressing in the first warm-up game.
Duckett smashed 59 as he outshone his opening rival Haseeb Hameed in Chittagong.
England still have a number of unresolved positions ahead of the first Test against Bangladesh, which begins on Thursday.
One is an opening partner for Cook, while another is at No.4. England have a two-day warm-up starting today to iron out any problems.
Duckett, who made his score before retiring in a 45-over game against the BCB XI, could fill either slot. He shared 75 with Hameed, who looked classy for his 16, but failed to kick on. Gary Ballance, one of Duckett’s competitors in the middle order, was not dismissed, but never settled.
Stuart Broad hailed Duckett’s effort and said: “It was a very impressive knock.
“He’s quite awkward to bowl to and he sticks to his gameplan. You could see by the way he was striking the ball, to be hitting fours on this outfield was a good effort.”
Of Hameed, (below) who is known for being an old-fashioned blocker and had just five when Duckett reached his 50, Broad added: “There’s a really nice calm aura about him when hen he’s practising, and certainly in the middle, when I’ve played against him twice this year.
“He has been hugely impressive in the conditions so far. I’m sure he’ll be looking to take his chance over the next couple of days.”
The pitches and heat take some getting used to, and Broad seemed unconcerned that it took England more than 40 overs to get a wicket, before the evergreen spinner Gareth Batty – who looks likely to play the first Test – took two in three balls.
“Today was very much about just getting a run out,” Batty said. “We had a quick chat about adapting to the conditions and learning as much about the style of cricket the Bangladeshis like to play, and what will suit us best coming into the series.” The There is slight con concern that Cook – who came to Bangladesh for a week’s training during t the ODI series – m may not make it backbac in time for the first Test if his wife Alice does not give birth soon enough. If he does play, he will become England’s most capped Test cricketer, overtaking Alec Stewart’s 133.
“As far as we know he’s coming back for the Test,” said Broad. “I spoke to him today and he seems very confident he’ll be coming back.
“Obviously family comes first so if anything happens back there I’m sure he’ll stay with his wife and take care of things there.”