Ben Duckett impact was similar to what the renowned Indian opening batsman previously did to the English bowlers in the game’s longest format, Lloyd said, drawing comparisons to Sehwag’s heroics against England. While pointing out Duckett’s hockey experience, the former cricket player turned commentator pointed out that the reverse sweep is a shot that comes naturally to the left-handed batter.
After the southpaw produced a game-winning century against India at Headingley in Leeds during the first Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, former England cricketer David Lloyd likened Ben Duckett to Virender Sehwag. On Tuesday, June 24, Duckett recorded one of the greatest hundreds at Headingley as England defeated a 371-run total by five wickets on Day 5. In the fourth innings, the left-handed opener smacked 21 fours and a six as he hammered 149 off 170 balls.
Since he spilt a beer over Jimmy Anderson on an Ashes trip, Ben Duckett has advanced significantly.
He now opens the batting in your World XI and is England’s equivalent of Virender Sehwag. For him, the reverse sweep comes so naturally. He enjoys playing it. In his Daily Mail column, Lloyd stated, “It’s not surprising to learn that he was a good hockey player at school because it’s like a hockey shot.”
The England opener has amassed 2621 runs at an impressive average of 43.68 and an incredible strike rate of 86.19 in 34 Test matches. He also got a half-century in the first innings of the Headingley Test. Sehwag, meanwhile, completed his international career with 8586 runs from 104 Test matches at a strike rate of 82.24 and an average of 49.34. Among batsmen who have scored at least 3000 runs in Test cricket, Sehwag has the highest strike rate. In order to join the 3000-run club, Duckett needs to score 379 runs from four Test matches, which he can do during the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
On Wednesday, July 2, India and England will play their second Test match at Birmingham’s storied Edgbaston stadium.