Ben Duckett has come to the defense of England captain Joe Root, dismissing criticism of his dismissal while reverse-scooping Jasprit Bumrah during the third morning in Rajkot. Root’s unconventional shot selection has sparked debate among cricket pundits, with some labeling it as reckless.

Root’s departure for 18 runs reignited the conversation about the risks associated with playing such shots in crucial situations. However, Duckett argues that Root’s ability to execute such shots effectively justifies his decision-making process. He compared Root’s reverse-scoop to playing a conventional drive, suggesting that both carry an inherent risk.

The dismissal drew sharp criticism from various quarters, including veteran journalist Scyld Berry, who described it as “the worst, most stupid, shot in the history of England’s Test cricket.” Despite the backlash, Duckett emphasized Root’s past success with the shot and urged critics to acknowledge his capabilities.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan echoed similar sentiments, stressing the importance of adapting to match situations. Nasser Hussain, another former England captain, emphasized the need for balance in Bazball, acknowledging its thrilling yet unpredictable nature.

Duckett, who himself played an impressive innings of 153 runs, remains optimistic about England’s chances in the match. He highlighted India’s cautious approach, evident in their decision to send in a nightwatchman despite holding a significant lead.

As England prepares to chase a target set by India, Duckett remains confident in the team’s ability to achieve success and create history. He emphasized their commitment to playing an aggressive brand of cricket and expressed readiness to chase down any target set by the opposition.

England’s aggressive batting approach faced criticism as India’s bowlers shine on Day 3 of the Rajkot Test match. Despite Ben Duckett’s century, India’s Mohammed Siraj and others led a strong comeback, leaving England trailing by 322 runs with eight wickets down.

Duckett defended England’s strategy, attributing their struggles to India’s impressive performance. He emphasized the need to credit India for their well-executed plans. However, he also defended Joe Root’s shot selection, highlighting the success of his unconventional shots in the past.

“It was one of those days when I feel we have to give credit to India. This morning they were very good and they didn’t make it easy to score. It felt like their plans were a lot better than maybe last night and unfortunately we just kept on losing wickets at the wrong times,” observed Duckett, speaking at the press conference at the end Day 3. “Then with the ball I didn’t think we bowled badly at all and Jaiswal has played another incredible innings there. He looks an amazing player. And it’s just one of those days. We’ll come back tomorrow and give it our best.”

While acknowledging India’s dominance, Duckett remained optimistic, stating England’s commitment to their positive brand of cricket. He praised Yashasvi Jaiswal’s aggressive batting style, suggesting it mirrored England’s approach.

With the Test finely poised, England faces an uphill battle to stage a comeback in the remaining days of the match.