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Ben Duckett. (Photo Source: Twitter)

In a short span of time, Ben Duckett has proven to be an integral part of England’s ultra-aggressive style of playing Test cricket. After Alastair Cook, England tried quite a few openers but nobody managed to make the spot his own. However, they now have a lethal opening pair of Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley who can take the game away from the opposition in no time.

After a few County Championship games, Duckett played in Ashes 2023 and was also a part of the England side that faced New Zealand in a four-match T20I series at home. He has now been picked as the vice-captain of the England team that will face Ireland in a three-match T20I series, beginning on Wednesday, September 20. The southpaw acknowledged that the English summer has been crazy as he has played a lot of cricket but he felt that playing for England is a privilege.

“It has been a crazy summer. But any opportunity you get to stick on an England shirt is a massive privilege, no matter what the circumstances are,” Duckett told in an interview with Trent Bridge.

That’s the way they want us to play, not go into our shell: Duckett

The 28-year-old was dismissed cheaply in both innings of the first Ashes Test in Birmingham. However, he bounced back strongly to finish the series with 321 runs in nine innings at an average of 35.67 and a strike rate of 75.89. Duckett revealed that after the first Test, England head coach Brendon McCullum and batting coach Marcus Trescothick motivated him to play more aggressively from the next game onwards.

“In the first Test I nicked off twice to balls on fifth or sixth stump, but to get off the mark at Lord’s, I slashed one over gully, and that’s what Baz [Brendon McCullum] wanted. I spoke to him and Tres [Marcus Trescothick] after the game and they just said ‘next time, smack it over them’. That’s the way they want us to play, not go into our shell,” Duckett said.

So far in his career, Duckett has played 15 Tests. six ODIs, and 11 T20Is and seems destined to play many more games for his country in the near future.