Rajkot, Feb 17: England’s Ben Duckett on Saturday called India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal a “superstar in the making” but said his side deserves credit for inspiring players in the opposition camp to bat aggressively in Test cricket.
Jaiswal dished out his own version of England’s much talked-about ‘Bazball’ approach of run-making in Test cricket, cracking nine fours and five sixes in his 133-ball 104 before retiring hurt due to back spasms.
The Indian opener shifted gears all of a sudden in the final session. Having reached 35 off 73 balls, he peppered the field with powerful strokes to bring up his second century of the series and third overall in his career.
“When you see players from the opposition playing like that, it almost feels like we should take some credit that they’re playing differently than how other people play Test cricket,” Duckett told the media during a press conference here.“We saw it a bit in the summer and it’s quite exciting to see other players and other teams are also playing that aggressive style of cricket.” “He looks like a superstar in the making, unfortunately he’s in some very good form at the moment. He’s due a couple of low ones,” Duckett said while making a tongue-in-cheek remark.
Duckett, however, defended former England captain and senior batter Joe Root, whose reverse-ramp shot off Jasprit Bumrah resulted in his dismissal, which also sparked a collapse of sorts in the visiting ranks.
“I’d be interested to know if those people were against it when he was doing it to Pat Cummins and hitting him for six in the summer,” Duckett shot back.
“I’ve no words really for it. It’s the same as me playing a reverse sweep and getting caught at point. Options are practised and that shot has been very successful for him over the past year, so next time it may go over the slips,” Duckett said.
The diminutive opener, who nearly broke the English record for fastest Test century on Day Two, finished on 153 off 151 balls with 23 fours and two sixes. (PTI)
