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Key Points

Nasser Hussain has boldly placed Ben Duckett among Test cricket's all-time greats after his explosive 149 against India. The opener's fearless batting, including audacious reverse sweeps, left India's bowlers clueless at Headingley. Duckett capitalized on a crucial dropped catch to cement his dominance, joining an elite England batting club. His performance has reignited debates about modern Test batting's evolving standards.

Key Points: Nasser Hussain Calls Ben Duckett Among Best Test Cricketers After India Heroics

  • Duckett's 149-run blitz put England in command vs India
  • His reverse sweeps and tempo rattled India's bowling attack
  • Survived a dropped catch on 97 to extend dominance
  • Joins Alastair Cook as only England opener with twin 50+ scores at Headingley
2 min read

Duckett is right up there in conversation of best all-time Test cricketer: Former England captain Nasser Hussain

Former England captain Nasser Hussain hails Ben Duckett's 149 vs India, placing him among Test cricket's elite after Headingley masterclass.

"Duckett is right up there in the conversation of the best all-time Test cricketer - Nasser Hussain"

Leeds, June 24

Former captain Nasser Hussain believes Ben Duckett is already right up in the conversation of the best all-time Test cricketer following his 149-run blitzkrieg on day five of the first Test against India.

In pursuit of a 371-run target, Duckett bossed India's beleaguered pace troika by unleashing a barrage of malicious strokes. He kept the tempo high with a smorgasbord of shots and pushed India's back against the wall.

He dazzled with a swashbuckling 149 from 170 deliveries and left England in a commanding situation in their quest to open the series on a triumphant note.

"Duckett is right up there in the conversation of the best all-time Test cricketer. He was very calm, and the shots he was playing were great. His reverse sweep was incredible," Hussain said on Sky Sports.

"I think India got the field wrong to him. Crawley and Duckett make an outstanding combination with their different styles and heights," he added.

Fortune stood by Duckett's side when he strolled past 90. He tried to pull Siraj but couldn't get the desired connection and dispatched it straight towards Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was enduring a torrid time on the field.

The young southpaw was guilty of spilling three chances in the first innings and was found culpable yet again. With eyes fixated on the ball, Jaiswal positioned himself but floored it, allowing Duckett to enjoy an unprecedented lifeline on 97, leaving Siraj completely dismayed.

He made the most of his second life and pulled out a reverse sweep from his loaded arsenal to send the ball racing past the boundary rope for a four. Duckett leapt in the air and punched his fist in jubilation under the cloudy sky of Headingley.

The flamboyant star became only the second opener after former captain Alastair Cook in 30 years to score twin 50-plus scores in a Headingley Test. His exploits at the crease ended after getting deceived by Shardul Thakur's pace and holed it to Nitish Kumar Reddy.

In 34 Tests, Duckett has garnered 2621, averaging 43.68 while striking at a healthy rate of 86.19, including 14 half-centuries and six hundreds.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

Here are 5 authentic Indian perspective comments for the cricket article:
R
Rahul K.
Duckett played brilliantly no doubt, but calling him an all-time great after just 34 Tests is premature. Our own Virender Sehwag had better stats and impact at this stage. England media always hypes their players too soon! 🇮🇳
P
Priya M.
That dropped catch by Jaiswal was painful to watch 😣 Our fielding standards have really dipped recently. Duckett capitalized well, but our bowlers also didn't have answers to his aggressive batting. Need better strategies for the next match!
A
Arjun S.
Credit where it's due - Duckett's reverse sweeps were spectacular! But comparing him to legends like Tendulkar or Dravid? Not even close. Test cricket is about longevity and performance across conditions, not just one good series.
S
Sanjana T.
England's 'Bazball' approach is exciting but risky. Duckett played well but let's see how he performs on Indian pitches against our spinners. That's the real test for any batsman! #WaitAndWatch
V
Vikram J.
As an Indian cricket fan, I enjoy watching aggressive cricket from both sides. Duckett's innings was special, but our team will bounce back stronger. Test cricket needs such exciting players to keep the format alive! 🏏

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