hornyknight

D Won ALL Bazball batting put to Test on Hitchcockian afternoon Australia made the most of the overcast conditions to bag two wickets ©Getty The stat around Ben Duckett having left alone only 6 of the last 700-odd deliveries he's faced upon his return to Test cricket is bandied around quite a bit in England. To the extent that you'd think it was a virtue. Like to have a Test opener who refuses to shoulder arms is somehow to be admired. Like it's one of the truest illustrations of England's current approach to playing Test cricket in this new era of English Test cricket. On Sunday (June 18) afternoon, Duckett simply had to leave the ball. Play had resumed after an hour-and-a-quarter long rain break. It was an unexpected shower. The predicted dark clouds hadn't arrived yet. As it turned out, they began making their first appearance over the Hollies Stand around the time Duckett and his opening partner Zak Crawley walked out to bat. The characteristic 'e' shape...