This summer, Test cricket is taking fans on a journey — from the streets of England to the sunny Caribbean and the buzzing lanes of Harare. Exciting teams are facing off, but the biggest buzz is around the five-match Test series between England and India.
It’s a battle everyone is talking about. With such high expectations, the pressure is huge — especially on the home players, who carry the hopes of an entire nation. And with the bold ‘Bazball’ style of play leading the way, England is bringing flair and fearlessness to the field. It’s not just a cricket series — it’s a thrilling contest full of passion, skill, and drama.
This could be a summer to remember.
One player who perfectly embodies the Bazball approach and has completely transformed his career in the England setup is Ben Duckett.
His fearless, front-foot style of cricket has not only revived his Test journey but also made him a serious contender to be England’s all-format opening batter in the current era. Duckett’s story is one of impressive turnaround. Back in 2016, he struggled against quality spin, famously troubled by R. Ashwin, with his weaknesses on the leg side and tendency to play with hard hands exposed on the world stage.
But fast forward to today, and he’s a completely different player. With a new mindset and aggressive approach, Duckett now forces opposition captains to push a deep point to the boundary early in a Test innings — a rare sight in the longest format. His crisp backfoot punches and wide array of sweep shots have made him one of the most dangerous and proactive batters at the top of the order.
In the Bazball era, Duckett isn’t just surviving — he’s thriving.
When Ben Duckett was dropped after just four Tests in 2016, his numbers told a tough story — only
110 runs across 7 innings, averaging 15.71 with a strike rate of 57.89. His early promise was overshadowed by struggles, particularly against spin, and it seemed his Test career might fade away. But everything changed when Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes took charge of England’s red-ball setup. Their message was bold and simple: play fearless, aggressive cricket. And Ben Duckett was ready to answer that call.
Since his comeback in 2022, Duckett has been at the heart of England’s Bazball revolution. In 30 Tests so far, he has scored 2,511 runs, with 13 fifties, 6 centuries, and a strike rate soaring above 85 — a staggering stat in the Test arena.
He’s not just making runs — he’s setting the tone, taking on bowlers from the first ball and putting pressure back on the opposition. A recent example came against India at Leeds, where his counter- attacking innings in the second innings proved vital in England pulling off their second-highest successful run chase in Test history.
Ben Duckett’s story is no longer about revival — it’s about domination.
Ben Duckett is no longer just a Test match story — he’s fast becoming England’s go-to batter across all formats. With consistent performances in ODIs and T20s, Duckett is now being talked about as England’s second-most valuable batter behind the great Joe Root in the current setup. The way he scores — fast, fearless, and with intent — has not only added depth to England’s batting but also posed serious problems for even the world’s best bowling attacks.
In the ongoing Test series against India, Duckett has emerged as the biggest threat. He has consistently unsettled India’s premier bowlers — Jasprit Bumrah and Ravindra Jadeja — something few batters have managed in recent years. Experts and former players have highlighted how Duckett’s positive mindset and attacking approach have shifted the balance, forcing India onto the back foot.
His numbers are just as impressive as his impact.
Duckett strikes at nearly 86 in Test cricket — an extraordinary rate for an opener — and holds the record for the lowest percentage of balls left in the history of the format. While England openers of the past were taught to leave anything outside off, Duckett sees those very balls as scoring opportunities. He plays on the front foot, on the back foot, and never allows bowlers to settle.
Averaging over 40 against someone of Bumrah’s caliber shows that Duckett’s game isn’t reckless — it’s calculated. His domination of Jadeja through a variety of sweep shots isn’t a coincidence; it’s the result of hard work, self-belief, and a complete transformation of his game.
Duckett doesn’t just play differently— he thinks differently. And that mindset is redefining the role of anEnglish opener in modern Test cricket. The Leeds Test was nothing short of a spectacle — a masterclass in modern Test match batting. It was a visual treat for fans around the world, proving once again that high run chases are not just possible, but achievable with the right mindset.
The key?
Staying positive, playing each ball on its merit, and not overthinking the moment. And when you have. someone like Ben Duckett in your lineup, that challenge becomes just a bit easier. His fearless approach, quick scoring, and ability to take the game to the opposition make him a game- changer in run chases.
At Leeds, he didn’t just bat — he set the tone, showing that Test cricket can be thrilling, aggressive, and successful, all at once.
Ben Duckett’s TEST CAREER:
M: 34
I: 63
RUNS: 2621
AVG.: 43.68
SR: 86.19
50/100: 14/6
