Ben Duckett gung ho for Giants
English star primed for Mzansi Super League Action
Englishman Ben Duckett is relishing a fresh start when he turns out for the Nelson Mandela Bay Giants in the Mzansi Super League T20 which starts on Friday.
Wicketkeeper-batsman Duckett, 24, is itching to get going for his new franchise.
“It’s extremely exciting to get the opportunity to come and play out here.
“I can try and give of [the] experience I’ve had so far in my career and playing in different conditions, and also learn how to bat and play the game out here,” Duckett said at a Giants media day on Tuesday.
“It’s going to be quite big for me to get as much information as I can out of the more experienced players here.”
Duckett burst onto the English domestic scene with 2,706 runs in all formats of the game in 2016, earning him a winter tour with England of Bangladesh and India.
There were two double hundreds in that total, including 220 not out scored in a List A (limited overs) match.
Wisden made him one of their cricketers of the year that season, remarking: “He batted with panache, impish ingenuity, confidence and courage – all before turning 22.”
But he has struggled to follow that up in recent years and now sees his gig with the Giants as an ideal opportunity to reignite his career.
“That was a great year for me. The hardest thing has been trying to replicate what I did that year.
“The last couple of years it has been tough to do that,” the Northamptonshire star said.
“But I guess coming out here with a new environment, not everybody has seen me play, so it can be a kind of fresh start.
“I’m just going to try to enjoy it as much as I can and play with the freedom I played with back then.”
Duckett is a forceful left-hander who has found a spot for himself opening the batting in T20 cricket.
But he says he will perform any role as team management sees fit.
“Recently I’ve batted top order but I grew up batting middle order. I can bat in different roles, but wherever the team needs me to bat.”
Duckett visited Port Elizabeth as a 17-year-old but never got to play at St George’s Park.
He says he remembers bits and pieces of the city and is looking forward to experiencing more of it.
“It’s a pretty special place [St George’s Park]. I was there yesterday [Monday] just taking it all in. It’s going to be quite a nice home ground for the next month or so.
“It’s slightly bigger than Northampton where I play in England. I came here with England U17s with Adrian Birrell.”
The tournament starts in Cape Town on Friday but the Giants only roll into action against the Jozi Stars at the Wanderers on Saturday.
The Giants will host a cricket development and coaching session at Gelvandale Cricket Club on Wednesday at 3pm.
Giants squad
Imran Tahir, Jason Roy (England), Chris Morris, Jon-Jon Smuts, Junior Dala, Christiaan Jonker, Aaron Phangiso, Ben Duckett (England), Sisanda Magala, Ryan McLaren, Heino Kuhn, Marco Marais, Dylan Matthews, Lizaard Williams, Rudi Second, Carmi le Roux
Home fixtures
Friday November 23 at 7pm: Giants v Durban Heat
Tuesday November 27 at 7pm: Giants v Cape Town Blitz
Friday November 30 at 7pm: Giants v Paarl Rocks
Sunday December 2 at 3.30pm: Giants v Jozi Stars
Saturday December 8 at 7pm: Giants v Tshwane Spartans
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