Duckett has given up a £159,000 contract with the Delhi Capitals to return to Nottinghamshire for the start of the county championship season. This is a smart move from the left-hander in my opinion; he hasn’t had the best of winters has he? With just 202 runs in the Ashes, only one half century in his last 16 innings, and he kept the bench warm this winters white ball tour.
He needs to rediscover some of his best form and this really is the time since his position is no longer guaranteed under the new selection policy. Duckett is a genuine three format player and I believe he is the best opener that the English game has at the moment; I just wish he would just leave a few more alone outside off-stump at the start of his innings. He is a brilliant square of the wicket player, and a wonderful sweeper of the ball, but you can’t play any of those shots if you’ve nicked off early and you are sitting in the pavilion.
His off field antics need a bit of looking at too. The Noosa incident is not the only time he has had issues with drinking on an England tour. When he was 23 he was sent home from Australia for pouring a drink over James Anderson in a bar. With the new era of “professionalism” beginning within the England setup, maybe staying away from the drink would be his best bet.
If Duckett can get his head down this summer score some big runs for Notts and England, he’ll no doubt keep his place and all of this noise will go away. Just do the talking with your bat Ben.
