“I’m desperate to play for England”
Image courtesy of: Zimbio
Batsman Ben Duckett is eager to win back his place in England’s Test team ahead of their upcoming summer at home, where they will take on South Africa and the West Indies.
Duckett, who averages 15.71 after four Tests, was dropped from the side after the second Test against India in November last year.
While he showed flashes of brilliance with his sturdy knock of 56 against Bangladesh in Dhaka in October 2016, he conceded that he struggled to adapt the conditions of the India tour that followed.
“I’m desperate to play for England,” Duckett said. “The time in India was difficult but it wasn’t as if I got out to four or five different bowlers.
“It was one guy who was exposing a weakness. I don’t think I’m not good enough but there’s a lot of work to be done. The main thing is not to put too much pressure on myself. You can’t help it if the guy you’re facing is better. You have to better yourself.
“I had a chat with Jos when I was there and he said the most important thing when you’re struggling is to stay level-headed.
“You’re in the spotlight all the time. I’d never played in those conditions against that type of bowler.
“I’ve not got the best technique, defence-wise. I trust my hands a lot and in England you can get away with that. But when you go to India it’s hard.
“I know what I did wrong: my front leg was going outside leg stump. You don’t get balls that pitch outside leg and hit the top of off (in England). That was new to me. I know I’ll always have boundary options against Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja but it’s about defence.”
The 22-year-old also admitted that he is slightly frustrated with his start to the county season as he has amassed 133 runs in three games, which includes a half-century, at an average of 26.60.
“It’s been tough,” he conceded. “I’ve felt good in nets. The wickets haven’t been batter-friendly. It’s very difficult to score big hundreds like I did last year when the game is over in two or three days.
“I’m not sure if 80s get noticed. If I want to play Test cricket I need 180s.”