The England batter reflects on a difficult Champions Trophy campaign and his dream of leading the white-ball side.
Ben Duckett has insisted that England’s commitment to winning has never wavered, despite their early Champions Trophy exit. The 30-year-old batter, who played in the tournament, admitted that the squad was left “hurting” after losses to Australia, Afghanistan, and South Africa, which saw them crash out in the group stage.
Duckett previously raised eyebrows by suggesting that England’s 3-0 ODI series defeat in India earlier this year was not a concern, as long as they delivered in the Champions Trophy. However, after England’s disappointing campaign, he has clarified his stance.
“It’s certainly not the case that we don’t want to win games. If there had been a camera in the dressing room, you would have seen a group of lads hurting, desperate to win.”
Despite the setback, Duckett remains a key figure in England’s multi-format plans. With Jos Buttler stepping down as white-ball captain after the Champions Trophy humiliation, speculation has begun over who will replace him. Names like Harry Brook and Test captain Ben Stokes have been mentioned, but Duckett has also thrown his name into the mix.
“To captain England would obviously be a dream. I don’t think it’s on the radar, but we will see what happens.”
Since returning to Test cricket in late 2022, Duckett has established himself as a regular across all formats, scoring over 2,100 runs in his second stint with the red-ball side. He credits much of his success to Brendon McCullum, who has backed him to play with freedom.
“When Baz [McCullum] came in, he told me, ‘Don’t judge yourself on one game—you’ll get a proper run.’ That gave me confidence and may be why I’m still here playing the way I am.”
With England’s busy schedule ahead, including a one-off Test against Zimbabwe in May and a five-Test home series against India, Duckett will have plenty of opportunities to cement his place. Whether he gets a shot at captaincy remains to be seen, but he is fully focused on contributing to England’s success in all three formats.
