Ben Duckett has expressed his deep disappointment over England’s recent struggles in white-ball cricket, admitting that their performances in India and at the Champions Trophy in Pakistan were painful to endure. He remains determined to help the team turn things around in the coming months.
England has suffered a string of defeats, losing 10 out of their last 11 white-ball matches. Their Champions Trophy campaign was particularly disastrous, as they finished bottom of their group after three consecutive losses, prompting Jos Buttler to step down as captain.
During the one-day international series against India, Duckett had caused a stir with a comment suggesting that England’s losses would be insignificant if they triumphed in the Champions Trophy final. This remark drew criticism, with some questioning the team’s commitment. However, he has since clarified his stance, insisting that results are of the utmost importance to him and his teammates.
“All we want to do is win,” he said. “If you saw the dressing room after each loss in India and at the Champions Trophy, you’d find a group of players who were absolutely devastated. The way we play might sometimes give the impression that we don’t care, but there is so much that goes on behind the scenes with the coaches. We are constantly working hard, and moving forward, things might look a little different. The style of play may not change, but the goal remains to win matches.”
Reflecting on England’s recent struggles, he admitted that their experiences in India and Pakistan had a profound impact on him. “Those two months were incredibly tough. I want to win every game, and we now have an opportunity to make things right this summer.”
Having endured a demanding schedule across all formats over the past year, Duckett is set to sit out the early part of the County Championship. This decision aims to ensure that he is fully prepared for England’s upcoming five-Test series against India.
“Nothing is set in stone yet, but it’s a tricky situation,” he explained. “Where I am in my career is largely thanks to Nottinghamshire, and I always want to give back. I’ve spoken with Peter Moores, and we’ve made a plan. He understands the demands I’ve faced, and my body was really struggling by the time we reached the Champions Trophy. My goal is to be in peak condition for the first Test against India, both physically and mentally.”
In recent days, Duckett has also found himself at the center of social media controversy after comments about facing Jasprit Bumrah were widely shared and misinterpreted. As a result, he has temporarily deactivated his X account.
“If you ask me about Bumrah, I’d say he’s probably the toughest bowler to face in the world right now,” he said. “It’s been an interesting week, but for me, staying off Twitter is the best decision. Life is much simpler without it.”
