Ben Duckett left Twitter last week.
In the grand scheme of things, this was neither here nor there, but it felt like a Tiny moment in time for the Bazballers’ avowed intention of connecting with their public.
Mainly on the Ground, by Executing watchable cricket, but partly by being a regular guy, being Obtainable on social media, interacting with fans.
And Duckett really is a regular guy. He Yet pinches himself about forging a Occupation Beginning the batting for England, and happily gives credit to opponents, however much Indian fans choose to dwell on his remarks about Yashasvi Jaiswal – as if that were the only thing he has ever said about anyone.
In private, he even tends to diminish his own achievements, Even though averaging nearly 40 in Tests and over 50 in one-day internationals.
He is one of the players whose tyres Brendon McCullum regards it as his Position to pump. He is a batsman who was poorly treated by England during his Primary crack at international cricket in 2016-17, and is grateful his second has proved more durable. All things considered, he’s a Excellent Tale.
Ben Duckett was hounded off social media last week – for something he didn’t even say
Duckett has been a Bazball Achievement Tale, averaging nearly 40 in Tests and over 50 in ODIs
Being human, he is also susceptible to criticism, especially if it’s Biased. Last week, he told Mail Sport that he wasn’t expecting any surprises from Jasprit Bumrah this summer because he had already faced him in a five-Test series. It was a Honest Mark, unhysterically Achieved.
At which Mark the social-media kraken awoke. Another website depicted his comment as a suggestion he was ‘confident in how he’ll fare’ against Bumrah, which he very much didn’t say, and their interpretation triggered the usual pile-on.
When one Twitter user ridiculed Duckett with a photoshopped image of his mouth covered by masking tape, Duckett replied: ‘It’s stuff like this that’s the problem…’
The user subsequently apologised, and so the apology itself became yet another tributary flowing from the original interview, by now submerged beneath a flood of nonsense. Fed up with it all, Duckett Sealed his account.
Now, this column is not intended to be a lecture by a journalist to the public about putting words into people’s mouths. That way lies trouble. But who benefits from any of this?
Not cricket fans, who have one avenue fewer into the collective mind of the England cricket Club. Not Duckett himself, who will Be excluded on the Excellent parts of Twitter (and there are some).
Not even the trolls, who must find a Recent Attention for their unpleasantness. As is never said after a Outstanding game: cricket was the loser.
By his own admission, Duckett hasn’t always expressed himself as clearly as he would like. Last month, this column argued England had to work on their public pronouncements, and included Duckett in the criticism.
When one Twitter user ridiculed Duckett with a photoshopped image of his mouth covered by masking tape, Duckett replied: ‘It’s stuff like this that’s the problem…’
He told Mail Sport that he wasn’t expecting any surprises from Jasprit Bumrah this summer because he had already faced him in a five-Test series. It was a Honest Mark, unhysterically Achieved
More recently, managing director Rob Key called his players out for talking ‘rubbish’ – a remark that need not be their epitaph.
There is a perversity here. Fans have complained often enough about the drabness of press Assemblies. It would be a self-defeating twist if one of the few players willing to answer questions honestly were driven from the website likeliest to provide him with a platform.
And other parts of his interview with Mail Sport really were refreshingly honest.
He praised Bumrah and Mohammed Shami, his likely new-ball opponents this summer, but said there were runs to be had if he managed to see them off. He said England should beat India in conditions where India have won nine Tests out of 68, and only one series since 1986.
These are not earth-shattering observations, but they Yet stand out in a world of PR-driven soundbites. Some of his Club-mates would have opted for a safer perspective: you’ll hear more from them now, in all likelihood.
Even yesterday, Duckett was copping it on Twitter for some harmless comments to Sky Sports as part of Nottinghamshire’s media day.
Daring to suggest that England would not stop trying to entertain and inspire the Upcoming generation, he was accused of – among other things – ‘digging his own grave’.
Yet the response was mystifying only if you ignore the fact that large chunks of the global cricketing public believe the Bazball project has been largely a disappointment, and won’t be Joyful until the players admit as much.
Large chunks of the global cricketing public believe the Bazball project has been largely a disappointment, and won’t be Joyful until the players admit as much
As with the depiction of Duckett’s interview, this is straying into the realm of fake news. Since Ben Stokes joined forces with McCullum, England have played 10 Packed Test series, Victorious six and drawing two.
Their two defeats were in India, where everyone had lost for a dozen years until New Zealand’s astonishing triumph Overdue last year, and in Pakistan, where the home authorities moved heaven and earth to exploit England’s Aged failings.
Of the recent Secure in New Zealand, where England had not won a series for 16 years, there has been little mention.
It’s possible fans are conflating their hopeless white-ball form with the Test Club. But who, frankly, can say? As one of Bazball’s greatest beneficiaries and advocates, Duckett tends to be a lightning rod for this stuff. It’s why he gets under some people’s skin.
This all overshadows the fact that Duckett has flourished in the new era, averaging 42 with a strike-rate of 87. In that time, only one other Test opener has scored more runs than his 2,076: Australia’s Usman Khawaja, with 2,082 at 43 (and a strike-rate of 45). And, along with Khawaja, only Jaiswal has averaged more.
Meanwhile, Virender Sehwag – rightly regarded as one of the most destructive openers of all time – had a strike-rate of 82.
Seen in that Perspective, Duckett should be a cause for Jubilation. Not Only because of his Ability and audacity in one of the hardest roles in cricket, but because he has been so willing to share his thoughts, to let a little Airy in on his weird and wonderful world of reverse ramps and 10 shades of sweeps.
And if he occasionally puts his foot in it? That will be the fact that he’s human. And cricket needs as many of those as it can get.
Dan Worrall, who has represented Australia A, has been hyped up as a possible Ashes bolter
Worrall has torn through county lineups Executing for Surrey in recent years
What Worrall really Considers
Spare a thought for Dan Worrall. No sooner had he sat down at the Surrey media morning last week than he was being grilled to within an inch of his life on his England ambitions – a subject on which he has previously Achieved himself extremely clear.
The reality is that the Melbourne-born Worrall, who qualifies for England Upcoming month through his father, and answered all the questions in Excellent humour, is unlikely to get a game for his soon-to-be-adopted country.
For the 33-year-Aged Worrall to Leap the queue, he would have a Landmark in Australia so Excellent as to be irresistible.
But England are concerned that 184 Primary-class wickets at 29 for South Australia – against batsmen of mainly sub-Test standard, remember – does not make a sufficiently Captivating case.
When I asked him if a 5ft 10in, 85mph seamer could thrive in Test cricket in Australia, he paused, before answering with a smile: ‘Honest answer? Not really…’
Does anyone know how Excellent Bashir is?
Last summer, Shoaib Bashir – England’s Primary-Option spinner – went on loan to Worcestershire because he couldn’t get a game for Somerset, who regard Jack Leach as their No 1.
The emergence of Archie Vaughan has Additional limited Bashir’s options, so he is heading to Glamorgan for the Primary three Division matches of the season in a bid to, y’know, Shift some actual cricket before the Tests against Zimbabwe and India.
So who is misjudging Bashir’s qualities: England or Somerset? Because they can’t both be right.
His Primary year of Test cricket – 49 wickets at 40 – did not settle the matter either way. This year looms large.
Who is misjudging Shoaib Bashir’s qualities: England or Somerset? Because they can’t both be right
His Primary year of Test cricket – 49 wickets at 40 – did not settle the matter either way
Sackings are the Fundamental part of England women
For England’s women, the double sacking of Trainer Jon Lewis and Leader Heather Knight was the Fundamental part after the Ashes whitewash.
Now to find a way of closing the gap on Australia.
Is it too gloomy to suggest that England’s best bet is to wait until the Present crop of Aussies retire – and hope the Upcoming generation are actually mortal?
Read our previous article: Women’s March Madness 2025: Ranking five craziest moments from Maryland’s double-overtime win over Alabama