Ben Duckett to make his Test debut against Bangladesh to complete his astonishing year
22-YEAR-OLD became the first man in history to be named both PCA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year
BEN DUCKETT makes his Test debut in Bangladesh on Thursday to complete the ultimate fairytale in his astonishing year.
The chunky left-hander yesterday scored his fourth half-century in five innings on England’s tour of Bangladesh.
Duckett, who yesterday got a signed card off the team on his 22nd birthday, has enjoyed a meteoric few months.
He scored 2,706 runs in all formats last summer for Northants and England Lions and became the first man in history to be named both PCA Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year.
Now, in the space of a fortnight, he is poised to make both his one-day and Test debuts for England.
He said: “It’s been a crazy few months, there’s really no other word to describe it.
“I loved batting for Northants and tried to take my form into this tour. Everything’s clicked and to be here now is the cherry on top.
“I’m feeling confident so, if I was to play on Thursday, I feel like I’m ready. There will always be a few nerves but I’d be very excited.”
The big question is, will Duckett open in the First Test in Chittagong or bat middle-order?
England are still deciding whether to employ attacking Duckett as captain Alastair Cook’s opening partner to try to exploit the first 15 to 20 overs, when the ball is hard and scoring is easier.
The alternative is for patient accumulator Haseeb Hameed, 19, to go in first with Cook, leaving Duckett to fill a berth at four or five.
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The young pair have opened in both warm-up games in Cook’s absence.
And he will probably have the final say after arriving back in Bangladesh yesterday following the birth of his second child. He and his wife Alice had a daughter.
Duckett scored two half-centuries in England’s 2-1 win in the one-day series.
It is likely he would not even have been picked for these Tests if Cook had not needed to go home.
Duckett added: “To play Test cricket is a dream, so I wouldn’t mind where I bat. I’m feeling good at the top of the order but I’d take any chance.
“I’ve always been aggressive and I’m working on being more patient. But, on flat wickets, it’s important to put the bad balls away and keep the bowlers under pressure.”
Duckett retired at lunch having made 60 as England drew against a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI — their final day of match practice before the Test — and Hameed stood down on 57 not out.
England have been impressed with Hameed’s concentration and calmness for such a young batsman.