Table of Content
Ben Duckett insists he will carry no negative memories from a difficult Ashes campaign into next month’s white-ball tour of Australia following a strong finish to the Pakistan tri-series. The opening batsman traveled to Australia last winter carrying a reputation as one of the premier all-format batters in global cricket, but struggled during a 4-1 series defeat where he averaged 20.2 with a high score of 42 across 10 innings. His tour was further complicated by a circulating social media video that appeared to show him in an intoxicated and confused state during a controversial mid-tour break in Noosa.
Strong ODI record against Australia
Despite those Test struggles, Duckett holds a formidable one-day record against Australia, accumulating 470 runs across six matches at an average of 78.33, which includes centuries at Bristol in 2024 and Lahore during the previous year’s Champions Trophy. Having registered two additional centuries at the Gaddafi Stadium over the past week, he will approach the upcoming three-match ODI series in Australia—beginning on November 13 in Perth—with strong optimism. Speaking to the Press Association, Duckett stated, “It’s a different coloured ball and a different format (from the Ashes).” He added, “I’ve got two hundreds against Australia in ODIs. It’s a completely different format so I’ll try to take the confidence from this (tour of Pakistan) into Australia.”
Form in Pakistan and opening partnership
England finished at the bottom of the tri-series standings in Pakistan after suffering three consecutive defeats, but concluded the trip with a victory against Sri Lanka on Thursday, during which Duckett posted a career-best ODI score of 167. Although his Test form has dipped over the past 12 months, the left-hander remains among England’s most reliable 50-over performers this year with an average of 56.7. With Jacob Bethell having missed the end of the English summer and the Pakistan tri-series due to a knee injury, Duckett has formed a productive opening partnership with Tom Banton, with the pair averaging 71 together. Banton has recorded five scores above 50 in six innings—including his maiden international hundred last month—giving the team selection choices ahead of Bethell’s expected return in Australia. Duckett noted that opening alongside Banton has been very positive and provides the coaching staff and selectors with good selection dilemmas.
Praise from pundits
Assessing the player’s recent resurgence, Sky Sports Cricket analyst Nasser Hussain told SkySports, “We all know that he is a high-class player. He’s just had a quiet couple of months and with the cricket they have coming up in this next year it was vitally important that Duckett got his form back.” Meanwhile, former England fast bowler Mark Wood highlighted Duckett’s resilience, telling SkySports, “If you’re having a long career you’re going to go through ups and downs.” Wood added, “Playing innings like that – he obviously loves Lahore, he’s got his two best scores there – but they’ve come at different times and in different competitions so for me his character should be praised here.” Wood further remarked that Duckett displayed determination when facing questions about his place or incoming players, effectively declaring that his spot belongs to him.
Upcoming tour schedule
England’s upcoming tour of Australia features three ODIs starting at 3.30am UK time and five T20s starting at 8.15am UK time. The ODI matches take place in Perth on Friday, November 13; Adelaide on Sunday, November 15; and Hobart on Wednesday, November 18. The T20 series follows with fixtures in Melbourne on Saturday, November 21; Carrara on Tuesday, November 24; Brisbane on Friday, November 27; Sydney on Sunday, November 29; and Canberra on Wednesday, December 2.
