by Ben Duckett inverse has swept once, twice, three times. And finally 12.
A modern man, conquering the most traditional role in test cricket – opening the striker – of the least traditional. With this one alone, he made 31 points. In total, he made 149 when he guided England to their second highest race in history.
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Duckett, whose highest score remains 182 against Ireland in 2023, quietly and regularly built a record which places it in the upper levels of the largest openers in England. In a programming of strikers where the legends of Joe Root and Ben Stokes are already made, where Harry Brook is the next elected generational talent, where Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope spend their life under the microscope, the coherence of Duckett at the top of the order has disappeared, if not useless, underestimated.
Since its return from the test side in 2022, it has an average of 47 with a typing rate of 88. In terms of average, it is higher than Astair Cook or Andrew Strauss. The last two men to nail the role of a premier in a shirt in England both ended up taking one knee in front of the queen, knight for their efforts. As a striking rate, it is higher than that of Virender Sehwag. Man widely considered as the greatest aggressive opener in history.
In 2025, it may seem too early, hyperbolic, even, to put the name of Duckett in the same support as the big ones. But continue as it has been since its return to the side, and by 2035, it will have been there for years.
The Brendon McCullum team twisted reality to the point that the arrival in Headingley on the five day, with 350 points still necessary for the victory, the prosecution of England of the highest second prosecution in their history was eminently possible rather than the opinion of a madman. These racing lawsuits did not occur three years ago. The dial was turned. And this team from England is the reason.
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With Crawley, Duckett gave England their beginning of dreams. The partnership 50 between the two came in 17th above the sleeves – the slowest they have ever shared as a pair – but in troubled and friendly conditions, it was perfect.
Player of the match that Ben Duckett poses after the victory of England over India (Getty)
Duckett, vigilant, struck the ball in the Bowling of Mohammed Siraj. He fell right in front of the field player before jumping in front of him and far for four. Duckett celebrated with a mini-fisting pump for itself.
Duckett’s strength lies in its versatility. Against fast quisors, he strikes the same ball in three different directions. And against the spinners, he has an arsenal of sweeping to appeal. Sometimes he keeps his hands the same on the bat. Sometimes he exchanges them. Sometimes he advances with his right foot. And sometimes he exchanges around and leads with his left.
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The crowning stroke of Duckett’s sleeves was its reverse scanning for six off Ravira Jadeja who sailed in the East stand. But his best was his training against Jasprit Bumrah. The biggest bowler in the world, welcomed with a perfect technique.
Duckett leaves after being dismissed from Shardul Thakur’s Bowling (Getty)
People often talk about a leg play with regard to the striker. But as the pace increases in the cricket, the opportunity for players to make large movements forward or back disappears. At the highest level, there is simply no time.
Instead, the striker is about weight transfer. Subtle changes that allow strikers to handle their position and access all areas. Duckett, short of stature, rarely, if never, moves his feet. Crazy in its position, it cuts something slightly wide. He pulls something slightly short. And leads everything that is full of distance. He is a call and response cricket player with the responses preloaded even before the arrival of the ball.
Duckett in action in Headingley (Action Images / Reuters)
The Talents of Duckett made him an opening match in England fully format, and moreover the case that he is one of the most complete strikers in England. Only him and Harry Brook command a place in the three xis. In ODI Cricket, the Duckett average is even higher than in tests, holding at 49 years. And since he became the undisputed first choice in 2024, it is 56.
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Headingley is the home of the race race. One of the very first Bazball proceedings occurred here in 2022 when England wheat 296 for three against New Zealand; The tons of Shai Hope twins killed England in 2017; And a little -known cricket player named Ben Stokes did 135 not two years ago against Australia when England fired in 362.
DuCkett Reverse sweeps against India (Getty)
Today, Duckett has added his name to this list with one of the biggest sleeves played in a shirt in England. Eighteen months ago, England went a Nilary in a series against India after Pope did 196 in the “Hyderabad burglary”. This round seemed to be a miracle. The perfect combination of a thousand factors meeting. The sleeves of Duckett today, rather than a miracle, looked like maturity. The next step for a player who makes his legend before our eyes.
In the history of India, they failed to defend a northern target of 350 twice. The first time was in England in 2022 when the home team continued in 378. And the second was today in their next match on these coasts.
In total, four of the 10 most successful proceedings in England in the history of the test occurred during the Bazball era. And the man leading the front is Ben Duckett.
