England opener Ben Duckett’s change in fortunes is a case study in the fickleness of cricket, and how one player’s individual returns get spun in the narrative of the team and series.
Duckett’s form has collapsed, and it’s not really his fault.
He came into the series lauded as one of the best all-format openers in the world, and on a decent run of form to boot.
There were question marks over his ability on Australian decks. A short man playing predominantly square of the wicket could struggle with a bit of extra zip and lift off the surface.
The opposite of Zak Crawley, whose attributes are considered ideal for conditions Down Under.
Duckett’s game needed to adapt quickly to find a rhythm that worked here or face a string of poor scores. That was certainly the case last time England toured.
After three Tests he’s under a lot of pressure, the commentariat point at dismal figures, punters want blood. Duckett is now in the firing line, but is it fair?
Perth: Duckett is 21 off 20 and starting to get some flow. However, Mitchell Starc is on a rampage with the new cherry, there’s a bit of life in a pitch that’s a little livelier than expected. 145kph angled in on the boot, LBW. Is Duckett at fault?
Possibly, he’s maybe a couple of inches too far across his stumps giving himself a better sight of the off-stump line, ball-tracker has it hitting leg-side of leg stump. I’d chalk this up to a brilliant set-up by Starc to get a critical wicket.
Second innings is another great bit of bowling, this time by Scott Boland. It’s not a silly shot, it’s in the channel and snaffled by Steve Smith. Duckett’s got to go after another handy start, but again not too much blame to be apportioned.
Brisbane: and it’s a Golden Duckett. Starc with a beauty, full length, shaping away, it would get any a left-handed opener out if they could get near it. Opening batters will sometimes cop these – a world-class left armer up in the 140s, the pinnacle of cricket. Bad luck Benny boy.
England are on the ropes by now, only five days into the tour and the ashes are disappearing over the hill. Fast. The last thing you need is a grubber from Boland. It scoots under Duckett’s bat from a good, if not hard, length. It’s a rotter, go and look back at it.
Australia’s Mitchell Starc celebrates with teammate the wicket of England’s Ben Duckett during the second Ashes Test in Brisbane. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)
Now let’s step back and take stock. Four innings into the series, no wild mistake, no terrible slashes. Has he been bowled attempting a reverse sweep?
Counter attacking and thrashing around? The answer is no. But the circus around Bazball is attracting criticism, no more stupid shots the media cry. Duckett, by reputation only now eclipsed by Harry Brook, is generally seen as stupid-shot-maker-in-chief. His tour numbers are drawing attention.
How does Ben usually counter a dip in form? With a swashbuckling all-out-attack approach of course, and it’s been successful. However, it would be political suicide at Adelaide. Sliding doors.
Adelaide: A dream delivery, a worldie, a beauty. Nathan Lyon is back. Instant praise from every media outlet. Nothing the opener could have done. 5 innings now without a score, it’s not his fault right?
Alastair Cook hints on TV that he could have done better, and suddenly our hero is starting to be undermined. The second innings backs the suspicion up, Ben’s neither forward nor back to a decent line delivery from Pat Cummins.
We know the Aussies are wily, the ball is in the right channel more often than not, and it buys wickets.
So we come to today. Duckett is now the man out of form, under-pressure, and bottom of the averages pile. Taken individually there’s very little fault to any of his six wickets so far. But in the eyes of every fan, Duckett looks like a different man.
Form is fickle, and you can lose it at any time. In fact the Aussies will beat it out of you. And the fortunes of your team won’t help you. So, for the love of god Harry Brook, make hay while the sun shines.
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