No Regrets as Duckett Reflects on His Dismissal
A Paradigm Shift or a Violation of Cricket’s Conventions?
During an eventful day at Lord’s, England’s daring display threatened to overshadow their earlier success against Australia, leaving spectators astonished and divided.
After cruising to 188-1, England chose to adhere to their aggressive batting instincts, launching an assault on Australia’s short-pitched bowling strategy.
In a swift turn of events, three wickets tumbled in quick succession as Ollie Pope, Ben Duckett, and Joe Root all fell prey to pull shots that resulted in catches.
While pundits expressed strong criticism, Duckett remained resolute, engaging in a spirited exchange after the match. Once again, the Ashes witnessed a remarkable day of cricket.
The Unfolding Chaos
England began the afternoon session with brisk scoring, maintaining a calm approach and reaching 145-1 after 30 overs by tea.
Subsequently, Australia employed burly all-rounder Cameron Green to execute a barrage of short deliveries, intensifying their tactics when spinner Nathan Lyon departed with a calf injury.
Over a span of 21 overs, Australia opted for short-pitched bowling 59% of the time, while England continued to embrace their aggressive strategy, attacking over 60% of these deliveries.
However:
- Pope attempted to dispatch Green for six but was caught at deep square leg.
- Root, three balls later, fell victim to another pull shot, caught off the glove, only to be saved by a no-ball.
- Duckett, standing two runs away from his first Ashes century, top-edged Josh Hazlewood’s delivery to fine leg after already having gloved one over slip, skewed another over the keeper, and nearly offered a chance to deep square leg.
- Root, offering another catch off the edge, was jubilantly caught by Steve Smith.
- Harry Brook, after a powerful pull shot, was dropped by Marnus Labuschagne.
From a comfortable position of 188-1, England found themselves at 222-4, but a more measured approach by Ben Stokes helped them recover to 278-4 by the close of play.
‘Absolute Stupidity’ – Pundits Condemn England
With Australia beginning the day at 339-5, England’s ability to dismiss them for 416, trailing by 138 runs, was deemed a successful outcome.
However, former England captain Michael Vaughan criticized their approach against the short-pitched deliveries as “absolute stupidity.”
“I witnessed an England side that initially played with great entertainment, showcasing proper cricket strokes while scoring the first 182 runs,” Vaughan expressed his thoughts on BBC Test Match Special. “Pat Cummins resorted to that option because there was no swing in the air and no seam movement.”
“What ensued for the next hour or so was absolute stupidity. That is not entertaining, I’m sorry; it is unintelligent Test match cricket. Australia will be delighted with that strategy because when the ball doesn’t swing in the coming weeks, guess what they’ll do?”
Australia’s batsman Steve Smith appeared to support Vaughan’s viewpoint, indicating that England’s approach played into their hands. He remarked, “At times, it certainly did. You can only resort to short deliveries for so long. The ball wasn’t doing much, it was soft, and the clouds disappeared. While England kept playing for them, we felt we were in the game.”
Duckett Responds: ‘Surprised by the Question’
Duckett offered a contrasting perspective, expressing disappointment in his dismissal but standing by the method that has led England to 11 victories out of 14 Tests under the leadership of Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum.
“That shot has earned me plenty of runs throughout my career,” he explained on the BBC’s Test Match Special. “I was scoring runs with that approach before I got out. I’m just disappointed I couldn’t cross the finish line. If I had deviated from my natural game, I would have been more frustrated.”
When asked about any doubts in the dressing room regarding the similar dismissals, Duckett responded, “I’m not sure how to answer that. I’m surprised by the question. We have been playing positive cricket for the past 12 months, and we won’t change our approach.”
“We are content with our current position. If we can close the gap or even take the lead, I believe we have the upper hand in this game.”
England remains committed to their style of play, regardless of the differing opinions it generates. Now, it’s your turn to weigh in on the matter.
If you are viewing this page on the BBC News app, please click here to vote.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Ashes match strategy
What was the result of England’s aggressive batting approach at Lord’s in the Ashes match?
England’s aggressive batting approach at Lord’s in the Ashes match received mixed results. While they initially scored quickly and reached a strong position, their aggressive tactics led to three quick wickets falling. However, Ben Stokes’s more measured approach helped them recover and close the day at 278-4.
What were the criticisms of England’s batting strategy?
Former England captain Michael Vaughan criticized England’s approach as “absolute stupidity.” He believed that after a solid start, their aggressive shots against the short-pitched bowling was unintelligent Test match cricket. Vaughan argued that Australia would be pleased with this strategy since the ball wasn’t swinging, and it played into their hands.
How did Ben Duckett defend his dismissal and England’s strategy?
Ben Duckett defended his dismissal and England’s strategy, stating that the shot that got him out had brought him plenty of runs throughout his career. He expressed disappointment at not crossing the finish line and emphasized the team’s commitment to playing positive cricket. Duckett believed that deviating from their natural game would have been more frustrating, and they were content with their current position.
What did Steve Smith say about England’s approach?
Steve Smith suggested that England’s approach of continuously playing the short-pitched deliveries played into Australia’s hands. He acknowledged that while it worked at times, there is a limit to how effective it can be. Smith noted that the ball wasn’t doing much, it was soft, and the clouds disappeared, giving Australia confidence in the game.
How has England’s aggressive batting approach fared overall in recent matches?
Under the leadership of Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, England’s aggressive batting approach has yielded success, with 11 wins out of 14 Tests. They have embraced a positive style of play, focusing on attacking shots and entertaining cricket strokes. Despite the criticisms, England remains committed to their approach and believes it puts them in a strong position in the game.
More about Ashes match strategy
- BBC Sport: The Ashes 2023: Was England’s attack at Lord’s ‘absolute stupidity’ or the way to go?
- BBC Sport: The Ashes: How Australia’s bowlers changed tactics to catch England out
- BBC Sport: Ashes 2023: No regrets about how I got out – Duckett
- ESPN Cricinfo: England’s aggressive tactics criticised by Michael Vaughan
- The Guardian: Ashes 2023: Michael Vaughan condemns England’s batting strategy
- Cricket Australia: Steve Smith discusses England’s approach in the Ashes
10 comments
steve smith agrees with vaughan! england played into australia’s hands with their approach. it’s not gonna work all the time! #gamestrategy
wow, england’s attack at lords got sum serious criticism! dey shud hav playd smarta! total stupidity according 2 vaughan! #ashes2023
so proud of our aggressive approach! stokes and mccullum got us 11 wins! critics can say what they want, we’re on top! #believeinengland
ben duckett standin up 4 himself! hez got a point! if it worked 4 him b4, y change? england gonna stick to their guns! #naturalgame
england’s batsmen went all out with the short balls and got caught out! vaughan says it was dumb cricket! smh! #strategyfail
england’s batsmen went all out with the short balls and got caught out! vaughan says it was dumb cricket! smh! #strategyfail
wow, england’s attack at lords got sum serious criticism! dey shud hav playd smarta! total stupidity according 2 vaughan! #ashes2023
so proud of our aggressive approach! stokes and mccullum got us 11 wins! critics can say what they want, we’re on top! #believeinengland
steve smith agrees with vaughan! england played into australia’s hands with their approach. it’s not gonna work all the time! #gamestrategy
ben duckett standin up 4 himself! hez got a point! if it worked 4 him b4, y change? england gonna stick to their guns! #naturalgame