Ben Duckett: Is England's Opener the New Virender Sehwag?

Former England coach David Lloyd has drawn parallels between Ben Duckett and former Indian opening batsman Virender Sehwag, praising Duckett's aggressive batting style.

Ben Duckett executes a reverse sweep during a Test match.

In his column for the Daily Mail, Lloyd remarked on Duckett's transformation, noting his growth since past incidents. He stated, "Ben Duckett is now England's answer to Virender Sehwag, a player worthy of a spot opening the batting in a World XI. His reverse sweep is a natural and enjoyable shot for him." Lloyd also linked Duckett's proficiency in the reverse sweep to his background in hockey, highlighting the similarity in technique.

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James Knott, Duckett's former school coach at Stowe School, shed light on the development of Duckett's reverse sweep technique. Knott told The Times that while Duckett possessed raw power, his reverse sweep stood out early on, attributing it to his hockey background.

Knott further explained that they honed Duckett's sweeping skills using a Merlyn spin-bowling machine. He recounted a match against Brighton College from Australia where Duckett scored 50 runs solely through reverse sweeps.

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Knott emphasized that he encouraged Duckett's aggressive approach, recognizing his hunger for runs and unselfish nature. He also noted that Duckett's desire to open the batting was crucial for his development.

Knott initially doubted Duckett's potential in Test cricket, anticipating greater success in shorter formats. However, he believes the arrival of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum transformed Duckett's Test career.

Duckett's impressive innings of 149 played a vital role in England's successful chase of 371 runs on the final day of the Leeds Test.