IT’S SHOWTIME! T20 BLAST FINALS DAY
Ben Duckett looks ahead to a thrilling weekend
BEN DUCKETT may have missed out on England selection this week, but he is hoping to again show his talents on the big stage by helping Northamptonshire to victory at T20 Finals Day.
Duckett was in contention for an England call-up for the upcoming one-day series against Pakistan following a stellar summer with the bat that has included unbeaten scores of 163 and 220 in recent 50-over games for the Lions against Pakistan A and Sri Lanka A.
The 21-year-old also tops the run-scoring charts for his county in the T20 Blast and Oneday Cup, his form in the latter competition earning him a place in next year’s North v South series in the UAE as one of the eight best players in the PCA rankings.
To underline Duckett’s stunning summer, he has also scored big runs in the Championship, an early-season unbeaten 282 against Sussex at Wantage Road the highlight of a campaign that has seen the youngster plunder 746 runs at 49.73 in four-day cricket so far this season.
This weekend will offer Duckett another chance to impress as part of a Northants side who remain underdogs despite the fact this will be their third Finals Day appearance in four years.
Having won it in 2013, Northants lost last year’s final to Lancashire. Now, the unfancied Steelbacks are hoping to go one better when they take on Nottinghamshire in the first semi-final tomorrow morning.
“We haven’t got any international stars,” says Duckett.“Finals day will be interesting to see who is talked about.We just keep going under the radar. Some of the players have been there before, which helps. Last year we won the semi and then we came up against a Lancashire side that played well. Most of our guys love the pressure.We just go out and enjoy ourselves.”
Northants, who beat Middlesex to reach Finals Day at Edgbaston, keep prospering in T20 cricket despite the fact they keep losing players, David Willey’s move to Yorkshire last winter the latest big-name departure.
For Duckett, he is happy to remain at Wantage Road and believes playing for a so-called smaller county should not impact his chances of an international call-up.
“People always say to me do you think you can play for
England at Northants?” he says. “Well, 100 per cent yes.We have been to three Finals Days in four years and the way you get noticed is playing on the big stage with the cameras and playing in successful teams.
“This Northants side has been successful, so I’m definitely very happy there.”
The city-based franchise model for T20 cricket in England that is being voted on by counties this winter would see no place for clubs like Northants.
An eight-team competition involving counties only with Test grounds is the most likely outcome and for Duckett, he is unsure how that would affect his career.
“I don’t know what it would mean for a club like Northants – it might not be the best thing for them,” he said.“We are a very successful T20 side, but I am young and I don’t know how it would work. If it happens, it happens.”
As for his own form, a move up to opener in 50-over cricket has seen Duckett prosper and it’s a role he is enjoying.
“I’ve been opening the batting in the four-day stuff and batting at three and opening in the 50-overs competition,” he says.“I have had the chance to bat at the top of the order and I have had the chance to bat for 50 overs rather than just having 15 or 20 overs. So for me, I have had plenty of time to bat normally in the power play, putting away the bad ball and my game has been a lot stronger against seam this year.
“The main thing is to keep my game very simple and whenever I go out to bat, whether it’s for Northants or Lions, I keep the same gameplay.The main thing I can keep doing is finish off the summer well and keep doing the same things.”
If Duckett does that, Northants have every chance of repeating their Finals Day success of three years ago.