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Ben Duckett's Test Redemption: How Bazball-Revived Gem Became England's Boon

Debashis Sarangi

Ben Duckett has been fabulous in Tests [Source: AFP]Ben Duckett has been fabulous in Tests [Source: AFP]

Ben Duckett, the poster boy of Bazball, became a household name in India as he unleashed his beast mode in the recently concluded Test series against England. In a rather unexpected turn of events, Duckett went on to outshine his Indian counterpart, Yashasvi Jaiswal, through a string of impressive performances. 

However, very few people know that the swashbuckling southpaw burst onto the scene long before Bazball came into existence. Interestingly, he made his debut as a prodigy on England's tour of Bangladesh back in 2016 and even went on to play the subsequent series against India in their backyard. 

A Challenging Start That Nearly Shut The Doors For Ben Duckett

Despite showing promising signs in the domestic circuit, Ben Duckett was given a short four-match rope to prove his mettle at the highest level. His initial stint with the English side didn't bring desirable outcomes, forcing the selectors to look beyond him in the purest format. 

As a result, he could feature only in four Tests, that too on tricky sub-continent decks, without much success, managing only 110 runs across seven innings at a horrible average of 15.71. Such a record was never going to help his cause, leading to his inevitable exclusion from England's Test setup. 

A debut in the sub-continent, where even cricketing greats don't guarantee success, was actually unfair for a 22-year-old cricketer. And it's fair to say, he didn't receive a recall despite piling up runs in the domestic circuit until Bazball entered the scene and helped him change his fortunes. 

Bazball Ideology: The Factor Behind Duckett's Redemption

'Sometimes all you need is a second chance, because time wasn't ready for the first one'. 

The hope of a second chance that kept Ben Duckett going during the hardships finally arrived in December 2022, when he received a well-deserved recall to England's Test setup for the Pakistan series. 

The plan was simple; England had some fiercest hitters, asking them to capitalise on Pakistan's placid decks. Duckett, who found wanting in the subcontinent six years ago, had matured into a fearless yet calculative risk-taker. 

His all-round stroke-making, combined with the ability to bat long, instantly made him an overnight star in England, a country that had stopped believing in him a few years back. This time he didn't let the chance slip, amassing 357 runs at an average of 71.40 and a strike rate of 95.71. 

And what followed next added yet another incredible redemption story to the rich history of English cricket. From the day of his Test return to the date, Duckett is statistically the most successful Test opener, having slammed 2762 runs at an average of 46.03 and a strike rate of 87.84. That's what a second chance can do to a spirited individual. 

The Impact Of Ben Duckett In Shaping England's Test Fortune

After the retirements of Sir Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss, England struggled to find a long-term opening batter despite trying out several names. However, the Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes-led management gave a lifeline to Duckett's Test career, a decision that eventually reaped rewards for England. 

Hailed for his scintillating stroke-play, Duckett ensured England didn't reminisce about the Strauss-Cook era, forming a deadly opening combination with Zak Crawley. The duo emerged as a fearsome batting pair, becoming England's most successful opening combination against India in Test history. 

Duckett's redemption added depth to the English lineup, which seemed heavily reliant on the legendary Joe Root for run-scoring. With Ben Stokes leading from the front with his all-round skills, Duckett has become the poster-boy of Bazball, powering England to success with his consistency. 

Thus, as things stand, Duckett continues to be one of the most valuable assets for England. But when he retires, the southpaw should remain grateful to Bazball's second chance that worked wonders for his Test career, which once seemed all but over.