For England’s looming World Cup defence in India a gaggle of players will sit in reserve back home and it may just be that Ben Duckett is the best fit to jump on a plane should a batter go down injured during the tournament.
An option anywhere in the top seven and armed with an array of sweeps and reverse sweeps, the 28-year-old would offer Jos Buttler and the management excellent flexibility regardless of whether Jason Roy makes himself available. A pugnacious desire to get on with it – evidenced across all formats – is another thing to pop in the pros column.
Runs in Saturday’s second (but in effect first) ODI against Ireland would be a decent nudge about all this. Not that England aren’t already enamoured, promoting Duckett to vice-captain in this second-string side and set to hand him a first central contract after a strong year in the Test side.
If a World Cup call doesn’t come, Duckett will train his sights on the Test tour of India in January. His first stab at the longest format came there in 2016 only to be personally cut short by Ravichandran Ashwin’s guile during a 4-0 defeat. He is keen to stress both he and England have changed since, however.
“This group of players is far different to 2016 and I’m certainly not going to get out playing as many forward defensives if I’m there,” said Duckett. “It’s a chance to go and play a different brand of cricket, which I don’t think anyone’s done over there.
“I will be working at it for the next couple of months, but the obvious one is Ashwin – he’s gonna get me out. He’s one of the best bowlers ever, especially to left-handers. But I’ve been thinking about it for a while now and trying to tweak little things.”
He couched all this by stressing this was “if selected” – likewise he expressed a hope an England deal is finally coming his way. Both look a given and there is talk of a possible two-year deal for him as England now look to lock down their best players for longer amid the ever-rising tide of franchise T20 leagues.
“If that means I’m going to play more cricket for England, then definitely,” replied Duckett, when asked if he would sign. “It’s certainly not negative, it gives you a bit more security. [But] the main thing is walking out to represent my country, it’s not really a contract – that’s a bonus.”
A first taste of all this may come for three England players at Trent Bridge on Saturday, with Sam Hain, Jamie Smith and George Scrimshaw all in line for debuts.
