Lucky break for India as Duckett endures a soft dismissal

Mark Wood waxed lyrical about Ben Duckett’s innings that flipped the momentum of the third Test between India and England in Rajkot. The southpaw slammed an unbeaten 133, taking the attack to the Indian bowlers in the second half of the second day after India finished with 445.

En route Duckett’s pyrotechnics, he became the fastest English centurion in Tests against India as he reached the three-figure mark in only 88 balls. He did the lion’s share of the scoring, adding 89 runs for the opening wicket with Zak Crawley (15) and 93 with Ollie Pope (39) for the second wicket.

“For someone like Ducky to play the way he did, that was honestly amazing. He tinkered with the field,” Wood said after the second day’s play on Friday. “They put the man behind so he hit it in front, the moved him in front so he hit it behind. It was amazing to watch. The skill level and how brave it was to take on a quality attack like that when we were 445 behind, to play that freely, that is what the team is about and the way he played summed it up perfectly.”

Duckett was severe against the spinners and, in particular, Kuldeep Yadav whom he managed to score heavily off with regular sweeps. His opening partner remained relatively staid but played his role well until he mistimed a sweep off the rough, and became R Ashwin’s 500th Test victim. Ollie Pope was set up nicely by Mohammad Siraj as England went into Stumps on Day 2 at 207/2, trailing by 238 runs.

The visitors weren’t able to keep up the good work on the third morning though, losing three wickets in quick succession including the well-set Duckett, who lobbed an easy catch to Shubman Gill at cover.