England’s Test opener Ben Duckett has revolutionized his batting under head coach Brendon McCullum. Instead of sticking to traditional opener strategies, McCullum has encouraged Duckett to excel by playing to his strengths and taking calculated risks.
At 29, Duckett has adopted a bold approach in Test cricket, blending aggression with precision. This shift from a conservative style to a more daring game has been pivotal in his recent performances, reflecting McCullum’s influence on his playing style.
Brendon McCullum’s influence sparks Ben Duckett’s evolution as England’s dynamic Test opener
This bold approach and style have allowed Ben Duckett to score heavily in areas where other batters might be cautious. Despite the occasional risk of getting out, Duckett’s commitment to his aggressive style has resulted in substantial runs.
Duckett shared his thoughts with The Daily Mail: “Baz (McCullum) asked me, ‘Why do you have to bat like past openers? Why not be the best version of yourself?’ That’s what I’m doing. Sure, it has its risks: I often nick off. But I also score a lot of runs in those areas. If I started leaving more balls, I’d likely nick off even more and score fewer runs.”
Duckett’s dedication to improving his game is clear. Despite a successful few years in Test cricket, he remains eager for more achievements and is determined to elevate his performance further. He acknowledges that pinpointing the exact changes is challenging but is focused on honing his distinctive approach and preparing for future challenges.
I’m the kind of guy who’s never satisfied: Duckett
The England opener is determined to keep pushing the boundaries of his performance, ensuring that the next chapter of his career is even more successful than the last.
He is currently gearing up for the upcoming three-match Test series against Sri Lanka, starting on August 21 in Manchester.
Duckett added, “If you’d have offered me in 2022 the two years I’ve had, I’d have snapped your hand off. But I’m the kind of guy who’s never satisfied. I want the next two years to be even better. My batting has felt like it has gone to a different level, which I can’t really put my finger on.”
In the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka, the Englishman faces the challenge of stepping up as the senior opener. With Zak Crawley sidelined due to a broken finger and Dan Lawrence stepping in to fill the void, Duckett will need to take on more responsibility at the top of the order.
Duckett signed off by saying, “We’ve only lost one match as a pair. Annoyingly it was against Harry Brook and Zak, who both play off scratch. If I could open with anyone in the world, it would be Zak. The partnership we’ve evolved together is something I really will miss this series. But it’ll be good fun opening with Lozza. Hopefully, he can get the best out of me like he does on the golf course.”
