Ben Duckett was the architect of England's stunning five-wicket win over India in the first Test played at Headingley, Leeds. Meanwhile, former England cricketer David Lloyd has drawn comparisons between Ben Duckett and ex-Indian opener Virender Sehwag in his column for the Daily Mail. This comparison comes after Duckett's match-winning innings against India at Headingley in Leeds. Duckett played a crucial role in England's successful chase of 371 runs, which they achieved with five wickets to spare on the fifth day of the Test match. The left-handed batsman scored a robust 149 off just 170 balls in the fourth innings. His innings was also highlighted by a strong opening partnership of 188 runs with Zak Crawley, which provided a solid foundation for England's victory.
In his analysis, Lloyd likened Duckett's aggressive impact to the effect Sehwag often had on English bowlers during Test matches. The former England cricketer also noted that Duckett's proficiency with the reverse sweep shot appeared natural and that he executed it with apparent ease. He ended up saying that Duckett is England's answer to Virender Sehwag.
“Ben Duckett has come a long way since he poured a drink over Jimmy Anderson on an Ashes tour. He is now England’s answer to Virender Sehwag and opening the batting in your World XI. The reverse sweep is such a natural shot for him. He plays it for fun. It’s no surprise to learn he was a good hockey player at school because it’s like a hockey shot,” Lloyd wrote in his column.
Sehwag was famous for his bold and aggressive batting approach, particularly when facing England. A standout performance came in 2008 in Chennai, where he scored a rapid 86 off just 68 deliveries, significantly contributing to India's successful chase of 387 runs. Across his 17 Test matches against England, Sehwag accumulated 821 runs at an impressive strike rate of 75.39, including two centuries and four half-centuries. In their recent victory at Headingley, England displayed remarkable confidence and a positive mindset, exhibiting a fearless yet intelligent approach throughout the match. This was particularly evident in Ben Duckett's innings against India's bowling attack, including Jasprit Bumrah. Duckett, who has played 34 Test matches to date, is rapidly establishing himself as one of the most dangerous opening batsmen in world cricket, having scored 2621 runs at an average of 43.68. The in-form opener is set to continue his role when England takes on India in the second Test match starting on July 2.