'7 years ago I might have tried to hit Shakib, but now I won't'
Ben Duckett
|| CF DESK ||
England batter Ben Duckett said he has matured as a cricketer and wants to utilize every opportunity to represent England in all three formats.
Duckett credited his return to England Test team head coach Brendon McCullum and England skipper Test cricket Ben Stokes. He expressed his feelings about the time when he made his comeback for England against Pakistan.
"The first thing Baz said to me in Pakistan was 'Just enjoy it, you're going to get a good run'. To hear that as an opening batsman before your first Test back makes you not nervous and you can go out there and play your way rather than looking for a score," he said.
"I've matured as a cricketer. It's realising what works for me, understanding what my strengths are. Seven years ago I might have tried to hit Shakib [Al Hasan] for six over long-on, now I know all I have to do is hit the ball in front of square leg and it's four runs. The small taste I had back then, I was very young and probably wasn't ready. I think that comes with age and most batters are at their best when they get to the age of 28, 29," as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
"I've matured as a cricketer. It's realising what works for me, understanding what my strengths are. Seven years ago I might have tried to hit Shakib [Al Hasan] for six over long-on, now I know all I have to do is hit the ball in front of square leg and it's four runs. The small taste I had back then, I was very young and probably wasn't ready. I think that comes with age and most batters are at their best when they get to the age of 28, 29," as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.
Duckett opted out of Pakistan Super League (PSL) and chose to play the Bangladesh series. He said that he wants to focus in the national team for now.
"I spoke to someone a month ago about people resting and pulling out of stuff. For me, the focus is on the chance to play all three formats for England. And that's going to be my focus for as long as I'm in the squad," he said.
"Don't get me wrong, if I've got a month next winter and I get offered a lot of money, I'm probably going to go and play in it, as most of us would. But you can play all these leagues around the world in a few years' time, right now I'm solely focused on playing as much for England as I can. That break I had was potentially a good thing for me, and it's made me so hungry now to take every single chance I get," he added.
"Don't get me wrong, if I've got a month next winter and I get offered a lot of money, I'm probably going to go and play in it, as most of us would. But you can play all these leagues around the world in a few years' time, right now I'm solely focused on playing as much for England as I can. That break I had was potentially a good thing for me, and it's made me so hungry now to take every single chance I get," he added.
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