England v Australia – LV= Insurance Ashes Series 2023 – Second Test – Day Four – Lord’s
Ben Duckett believes his more alternative skill set could complement England’s big-hitters in the defence of their T20 World Cup crown in June.
England have a surfeit of batters who can clear the ropes with ease and, 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 leaves the top and middle order short of left-handed options.
With Dawid Malan out-of-favour, Duckett, who has a strike-rate 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,” England’s Test opener told the PA news agency. “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 moving forward in that group is something I’d take with both hands. If I don’t get picked then I don’t get picked. There are 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 and are expected to name a squad for the series and a provisional pack for the World Cup next week.
Unless summoned by Jos Buttler and Matthew Mott, Duckett will happily keep playing for Nottinghamshire in the Vitality County Championship and T20 Blast ahead of England’s first Test this summer against the West Indies at Lord’s, starting on July 10.
Their last assignment ended with a 4-1 defeat in India and, although Duckett acquitted himself fairly well, with a stunning 153 off 151 balls in Rajkot the high point, he faced some backlash for suggesting England’s style under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum had influenced star opener Yashasvi Jaiswal.
The 22-year-old finished as 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 against England’s ‘Bazballers’.
“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.
“I didn’t know anything about Jaiswal, I didn’t know that was the way he was going to go out and play in every single innings and that’s the way he does well. Fair play, it was great to watch at times.
“He’s a fabulous player and he’s going to score a lot of Test runs.”
From news to politics, travel to sport, culture to climate – The Independent has a host of free newsletters to suit your interests. To find the stories you want to read, and more, in your inbox, click here.
News Related
-
Asylum seekers travel in an inflatable boat across the English Channel, bound for Dover on the south coast of England (Photo: Ben Stansall/AFP) Up to 40 Conservative MPs are poised to rebel over Rishi Sunak’s Rwanda deportation policy as they question ministers’ commitment to the scheme. A major row is ...
See Details:
Up to 40 Tory MPs ‘set to rebel’ if Sunak’s Rwanda plan doesn’t override ECHR
-
In the saltmarsh fringing where the Ballyboe River dissolves into Trawbreaga Bay, a little egret wears its plumage like a windblown stole. Our car swoops across the 10 arches of Malin bridge and we park along the village green. Malin is almost as far north as you can get on ...
See Details:
Country diary: A tale of three churches
-
Photograph: Chris Ratcliffe/EPA Hampton Court is an enduring monument to the power of Henry VIII, a pleasure palace down the Thames from Westminster and the City of London. On Monday it was the scene of power projection of a different kind, as Rishi Sunak pitched for investment from some of ...
See Details:
Sunak woos business elite with royal welcome – but they seek certainty
-
-
Tottenham interested in move to sign “fearless” £20m defender in January Tottenham Hotspur have joined the race to bring an overseas defender to the Premier League in January, according to a fresh report. Postecoglou’s centre-back options The Lilywhites currently have Micky Van De Ven, Ashley Phillips, Cristian Romero and Eric ...
See Details:
Tottenham interested in move to sign “fearless” £20m defender in January
-
A £100m campaign urging households and businesses to use less water will be funded from customers’ bills, Ofwat has said. Bill payers to stump up cost of £100m water usage campaign The regulator’s chief executive David Black told MPs that if the measures worked it would be cheaper than building ...
See Details:
Bill payers to stump up cost of £100m water usage campaign
-
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia and New Zealand 2023 – Group B – Canada Training – Olympic Park, Melbourne, Australia – July 24, 2023 Canada’s Christine Sinclair during training REUTERS/Hannah Mckay/File Photo (Reuters) – BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia, will be renamed “Christine Sinclair ...
See Details:
Soccer-Venue renamed 'Christine Sinclair Place' for Canada soccer great's final game
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Phil Taylor makes his pick for 2024 World Darts Championship winner
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Soccer-Howe aims to boost Newcastle's momentum in PSG clash
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Hamilton heads for hibernation with a word of warning
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
Carolina Panthers fire head coach Frank Reich after 1-10 start to the season
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
This exercise is critical for golfers. 4 tips to doing it right
-
Michael van Gerwen is hunting down a fourth World Championship title (Picture: Getty Images) Michael van Gerwen is Phil Taylor’s tip to lift the World Darts Championship trophy for a fourth time in January, expecting a backlash from the recent defeat in the Players Championship Finals. The 2024 World Championship ...
See Details:
One in three households with children 'will struggle to afford Christmas'
-
OTHER NEWS
Kobbie Mainoo made his first start for Man Utd at Everton (Photo: Getty) The Football Association are reportedly confident that Manchester United starlet Kobbie Mainoo will choose to represent England ...
Read more »
Michael Smith will begin the defence of his world title on the opening night (Picture: Getty Images) The 2024 World Darts Championship is less than three weeks away and the ...
Read more »
For the first time a long haul commercial aircraft is flying across the Atlantic using 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). A long haul commercial flight is flying to the US ...
Read more »
The King has met business and finance leaders from across the world at a Buckingham Palace reception to mark the conclusion of the UK’s Global Investment Summit. Charles was introduced ...
Read more »
After Ohio State’s 30-24 loss to Michigan Saturday, many college football fans were wondering where Lou Holtz was. In his postgame interview after the Buckeyes beat Notre Dame 17-14 in ...
Read more »
Darius Slay wouldn’t have minded being penalized on controversial no-call No matter which team you were rooting for on Sunday, we can all agree that the officiating job performed by ...
Read more »
New England Patriots quarterback Mac Jones (10) Quarterback Mac Jones remains committed to finding success with the New England Patriots even though his future is up in the air following ...
Read more »