Ben Duckett, the England opener, faced criticism for his remarks about Indian batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal after England’s defeat in the Rajkot Test.
Despite Duckett’s controversial comments, where he attributed Jaiswal’s batting success to England’s Bazball style, former England pacer Ryan Sidebottom offered a more balanced perspective.
Duckett, who scored 153 off 151 balls in the third Test, suggested that England’s batting approach deserved credit for Jaiswal’s impressive performance.
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Jaiswal, initially taking 80 balls for his half-century, later accelerated to score an unbeaten 214 off 236 balls, hitting 12 sixes and equaling the record for most maximums in an innings, previously held by former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram.
In response to Duckett’s comments, Sidebottom, in an exclusive interview with Cricxtasy, stated that players may say things they don’t truly mean under pressure.
He acknowledged Jaiswal’s outstanding skills, emphasizing that the Indian opener is his own cricketer and a complete player who has been deserving of recognition for some time. Sidebottom also mentioned his appreciation for mind games in cricket but urged not to always take players’ statements at face value.
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Describing Duckett and Jaiswal as attacking cricketers, Sidebottom highlighted the entertainment value in watching both players perform. He welcomed the controversy as a talking point, contributing to the intrigue of Test matches. Despite the comments, Sidebottom expressed anticipation for Duckett’s performance and believed the situation would add an extra layer of interest to the upcoming Test matches
