Was tough to watch England struggle in WC; it does not define the team: Ben Duckett

ST. JOHN’S: England opener Ben Duckett said it was tough for him to watch the team struggle at the 2023 Men’s ODI World Cup, but insisted that the dismal performance in the recent competition does not define the team, citing their previous track record. England entered the competition in India as defending champions, but lost six of their first seven matches to be out of race for the knockouts. But late victories over Netherlands and Pakistan secured their qualification for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

Duckett, a regular in the Test team, is among the players in a fresh-look England team when they start their ODI series against the West Indies on Sunday. Captain Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Livingstone, Harry Brook, Gus Atkinson and Brydon Carse are six men from the ODI World Cup squad who are part of West Indies tour.

“I watched every England game (at this year’s World Cup) and it was tough to watch at times. I’m watching mates go out there and struggle. It was really difficult. I was playing with them a few weeks before, so it was tough.”

“But we have watched how England have played over the past eight years and one bad five weeks does not define a team. It’s probably been the greatest white-ball team. What they’ve achieved over the past eight years has been incredible. If we can go and play how they have played over the past eight years, or even half as good, that will be an achievement,” said Duckett to Sky Sports.

Duckett, who is also in England’s squad for the five T20Is that follow the ODIs, is eager to prove on the tour that he’s good enough to get a place in the white-ball team. “We know how they want to play their cricket and it seems the guys they have picked going into this, the young talent, they go and smack it for their counties and I’m sure they are going to do the same here.” IANS

Also Read: I don’t think I got sledged once in the whole series, says Duckett on Australia in the Ashes

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