By Ahmed Abdelsalam
Ben Duckett insists he will not carry any scars from last winter's Ashes defeat into England's upcoming three-match ODI series against Australia, which begins on November 13 in Perth.
Strong ODI record against Australia
Duckett arrived in Australia last winter as one of the world's leading all-format batters but averaged just 20.2 with a top score of 42 across 10 innings as England lost the Ashes 4-1. A video circulated on social media appearing to show him in an inebriated state during the team's controversial mid-tour break in Noosa. However, his one-day record against Australia is impressive: 470 runs in six matches at an average of 78.33, including centuries at Bristol in 2024 and Lahore during last year's Champions Trophy. He added two more hundreds at Gaddafi Stadium in the recent Pakistan tri-series.
Tri-series form and partnership with Banton
England lost their first three matches in Pakistan and finished bottom of the tri-series standings, but they ended the tour with a victory over Sri Lanka on Thursday, where Duckett scored an ODI-best 167. While he has struggled in Tests over the past 12 months, the left-handed opener has been one of England's most reliable performers in the 50-over format this year, averaging 56.7. With Jacob Bethell sidelined by a knee injury for the latter part of the English summer and the Pakistan tri-series, Duckett has formed an effective opening partnership with Tom Banton, the pair averaging 71 together. Banton has posted five scores of 50 or more in six innings, including a maiden England hundred last month since his ODI recall.
Selection headache with Bethell's return
Bethell is available to return for the Australia series, giving England selectors a welcome dilemma. Duckett said opening with Banton had been working well in their small sample and that having Bethell back represents a good problem for the coaching staff. He added that the white-ball format is completely different from the Ashes and that he will take confidence from the Pakistan tour into the Australia series.
