England are backing Ben Duckett to be their opener for all formats as the busy left-hander will accompany the brawny Phil Salt at the top of the order for Wednesday’s first T20 against India. Duckett has been England’s tone-setter in Tests for the past couple of years and nailed down a spot in the ODI side with a series of eye-catching displays against Australia at the back end of last summer.
While he has a dozen T20 caps, Duckett has not opened in the format for England since his debut in 2019 but a vacancy has arisen with Jos Buttler staying at number three and Will Jacks out of the squad. Duckett may lack explosiveness but shows intent through his canny 360-degree strokeplay and proficiency on the sweep, and the left-hander could be England’s answer to Australia’s David Warner going forwards.
“I think he’s been playing brilliantly well in all formats of the game,” England captain Buttler said of the 30-year-old. “You look at someone in England cricket now who could open the innings in every format of the game, it’s credit to the way he’s played over the last few years and he fully deserves his chance.
“He’s got an excellent reputation against spin but he has even more options in the powerplay. With only two fielders out, he’s an incredibly tough guy to defend against with all the different areas that he can hit the ball. “I think it’s something that’s going to really suit his game and we’re all really excited for it.”.
With Buttler deciding to continue pulling the strings in the outfield after doing so against the West Indies before Christmas, Salt has edged out Jamie Smith for the wicketkeeper’s spot for England’s first T20 at Eden Gardens since their agonising defeat in the 2016 World Twenty20 final by the West Indies.
