India v England: Ben Duckett reflects on drawn first Test and answers Twitter questions
Tuesday 15 November 2016 14:55, UK
In his latest blog for Sky Sports, Ben Duckett reflects on a fantastic first Test for England in India despite the disappointment of it ending in a draw, and answers your Twitter questions...
The boys put in an unbelievable performance in the first Test in Rajkot.
Obviously it was a shame we couldn't quite get those final four India wickets and start the series with a win, but we're all very proud of our efforts, and can't wait for the second Test to start on Thursday.
Hasseb Hameed had a debut to remember, and I thought our spinners were excellent - I had a particularly good vantage point to watch them from at slip.
Obviously Adil Rashid, with his seven wickets, stood out, but I also thought Moeen Ali and Zafar Ansari bowled brilliantly, but without much luck.
Right, time to answer some of your Twitter questions...
What has been your favourite moment in an England shirt so far? - @Cesced4
I think it has to be winning my debut Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong. Over my international career, I expect to have ups and downs as an individual, but its success as a team - getting to celebrate with your team-mates - that are the most special moments.
Who is the best table tennis player in the England team? - @Harry__Hughesy
I've been practising really hard, but I'm not at the standard of some of the others yet. Of the boys that play it regularly, I hate to say it, but I think Gary Ballance is the best.
Who is the most entertaining in the dressing room? - @Guly_Mullaaa
That's a difficult one to say. There are a few funny lads in the dressing room, and I'm still only just getting to know a lot of them. But I'd probably say Joe Root - just look at that Bob Willis impression he did, or whatever that was, last year.
Who in the England cricket team who do you look up to the most? - @erzrocks
Again, Rooty. Obviously the skipper, Alastair Cook, is someone who I hugely admire. It is great to be able to play under him and learn from someone with such great experience, but Root is someone who I particularly look up to from a batting perspective - he plays in the manner I'd like to for England, being positive and taking the game to the opposition.
How many curries you had in tour so far on tour? - @FrankEntwistle
A lot. Particularly at the grounds during the games, at lunch. My curry of choice is butter chicken; pretty standard.
How are the batsmen feeling after very good performance in the first Test? - @piyushkashypxiv
Everyone's feeling very good. It's a very positive dressing room at the best of times anyway, and was so even after the disappointment of losing the second Test to Bangladesh in Dhaka. To have three centurions in the first innings, and four in the Test was amazing, though obviously it was disappointing I couldn't score heavily myself. I feel in good nick though going into the second Test.
Do you think Haseeb Hammed will be a future star? - @SimplyPogba1
It's difficult to say, as it's still so early in his career. But a few of us sitting on the balcony during his innings were saying how amazingly at home he looked in just his first Test. He bats like he's already a Test match veteran. Nothing seems to faze him.
Playing your reverse sweep, at what point do you decide to play the shot? - @harryjw_
For me personally, when I play the reverse-sweep it's completely pre-meditated. I try to get into position as early as possible, before even the bowler has released the ball.
What was your biggest challenge when switching from first-class cricket to international? - @ShahzaibQ98
Obviously I'm still new to international cricket, so I can only really talk about what I've faced so far - so in that sense, playing against high-quality spinners like Ravi Ashwin, No 1 in the world, and on turning tracks in the sub-continent, is unlike anything I've ever faced in county cricket.
What other player(s) from your England Under-19 days do you expect to join you one day in the senior team? - @T0MP0TTER
Joe Clarke at Worcestershire is an unbelievable batsman and has already earned a call-up for the England Lions this winter. Plus, there's Matthew Fisher at Yorkshire - he was already leading our attack when aged just 16. He's a very skilful seam bowler.
Live Test Cricket
England take on India in the second Test of their five-match tour, in Visakhapatnam, live from 3.30am this Thursday on Sky Sports 2.
