Ben Duckett to open batting with Phil Salt in England’s first T20 in India 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
