Ben Duckett celebrated his 22nd birthday Monday by scoring another half-century in England's final warm-up before a series against Bangladesh, enhancing his prospects of a Test debut
England cricketer Ben Duckett plays a shot during the warm-up match between England and the Bangladesh Cricket Board XI at the MA Aziz Stadium in Chittagong. Pic/AFP
Chittagong: Ben Duckett celebrated his 22nd birthday Monday by scoring another half-century in England's final warm-up before a series against Bangladesh, enhancing his prospects of a Test debut. Duckett hit 60 including 10 fours as England reached 256 all out in their only innings, replying to a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI's total of 294 at Chittagong's MA Aziz stadium.
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Duckett retired after completing his fourth half century in the last five innings to allow other England batsmen to get some kind of practice, although few of his teammates made the most of their opportunity.
"It's nice to get out in the middle and play a game as opposed to playing in the nets," Duckett said after the match. Haseeb Hameed, who is vying with the left-hander Duckett for a place at the top of the order in Thursday's opening Test in Chittagong, hit 57 off 125 balls before he also retired. Duckett played down the competition between the two batsmen, neither of whom has made their Test debut. "We are teammates at the end of the day, so it's not necessarily competition," he said of the 19-year-old Lancashire player.
"Whoever plays sure deserves it. Like he did today, Has can bat for days. That's the way we play, we are different players." After Duckett and Hameed's retirements, stand-in skipper Joe Root made 24 before becoming the first of three quick wickets for left-spinner Tanvir Haider soon after the lunch break. Tanvir, who finished with 4-53, had Root caught by wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan before he dismissed Jonny Bairstow (six) and Jos Buttler (four). Paceman Subashis Roy bowled Ben Stokes for 25 but Gary Ballance played a patient knock to remain unbeaten on 36. After the match beginning in Chittagong on Thursday, the teams will head to Dhaka for the second and final Test.
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