Ben Duckett unfazed by series defeat, eyes Champions Trophy victory
What's the story
England's opening batsman Ben Duckett has said that a 0-3 ODI series defeat to India won't disrupt the team's rhythm. All he cares about is winning the impending ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and UAE. The Jos Buttler-led England currently trail India 0-2 in the three-match series, having lost in Nagpur and Cuttack. The two sides will clash in the 3rd ODI in Ahmedabad.
Strategic focus
Duckett views ODI series as preparation for Champions Trophy
In a recent interview with The Guardian, Duckett clarified that the ongoing series against India is just a warm-up for the Champions Trophy. He emphasized that their main goal is to win this prestigious ICC tournament. Despite England's lackluster performance in the white-ball leg against India, Duckett remains confident about their prospects in the upcoming tournament. Notably, England also lost the preceeding T20I series to hosts India.
Batting strategy
Duckett defends his aggressive batting approach
Duckett's batting approach has been criticized by former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen, who questioned his sense of responsibility in ODIs. Pietersen argued batsmen shouldn't be content with scoring 50-60 runs and consider their job done. However, Duckett defended his aggressive style, stating he wasn't satisfied with scoring 65 in Cuttack but had to seize opportunities against favorable match-ups.
Past performance
England's performance in recent ICC tournaments
It is worth noting that England's run in the last two limited-overs ICC tournaments have been modest. They lost the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup semi-final to India and were outplayed in the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup. Despite the setbacks, Duckett remains optimistic about his team's chances in the upcoming Champions Trophy. England are placed in Group A alongside Australia, South Africa, and Afghanistan.