Bangladesh v England: Ben Duckett surprised by his Test call-up
Northants batsman included in both Test and ODI squads
Friday 16 September 2016 13:28, UK
Northamptonshire batsman Ben Duckett admitted that he was slightly surprised to get a call-up to the England Test squad for the tour of Bangladesh.
The 21-year-old has been in fantastic form across all three formats of the game this summer to earn his place in both the Test and ODI squads.
However, despite scoring over 1,300 runs at 60.81 in first class cricket, Duckett felt that playing his cricket outside the top flight might prevent him being selected in the longer format.
"I got a call a couple of days ago when we were having a team meal but it's been a bit of a strange morning, it hasn't really hit home yet," he told Sky Sports News HQ.
"It was a little bit of a surprise. Everyone has been saying all summer that you can't play for England in Division Two so it's very nice that the selectors have looked past that."
Having narrowly missed out on a place in the limited-overs squads for the series Pakistan, Duckett is now keen to take his chance.
"It was almost third time lucky," he added. "With the T20 and the one-day stuff I got a call to say I'd just missed out but they're an unbelievable one-day squad so I wasn't surprised about that.
"It was going to be tough to break into the side but a couple dropping out of the Bangladesh tour has given me a chance. I'm over the moon to be selected.
"I've got the chance but to stay in the side and in the squad I'm going to have to perform. I've just going to take the confidence that I have from this summer, play the way that I play to try and do that."
England go into the series with Bangladesh as clear favourites but Duckett is expecting the hosts to provide a stern test.
"Bangladesh on their home soil are going to be tough to beat," he said. "I do like to think playing spin is one of the strongest parts of my game so I just need to take as much confidence as I can and no matter who the spinner is bowling at me, just play my natural game."
Duckett will hope to be involved as England take on Bangladesh in the first ODI on October 7 before a further two ODIs with the first test beginning on October 20.
