Mature and confident Ben Duckett eyes spot in England’s free-flowing Test side

Fresh from sweeping Pakistan to distraction during England’s recent Twenty20 series win in Pakistan, Ben Duckett is now eyeing a return to the country before Christmas to play the format that sits “right at the top” of his ambitions.

Duckett missed out on England’s T20 World Cup campaign but will be among those under consideration when a touring party is chosen by Rob Key’s selection panel next week. The 27-year-old is, it should be noted, a much-matured player since a struggle against India’s Ravichandran Ashwin during his last stab at Test cricket six winters ago.

Duckett is clearly close, having been called up for the last Test of England’s buccaneering summer when Jonny Bairstow broke his leg on the golf course. It was Harry Brook who got the nod to face South Africa but Duckett’s 1,012 championship runs at 72 for Nottinghamshire this year – plus an ability to bat in the top three – further underline his status as the next cab off the oft-cited rank.

“Without sounding too arrogant, I think my record in red-ball cricket speaks for itself,” said Duckett, speaking at this week’s cinch Professional Cricketers’ Association Awards in London. “I’m at an age now where, to give myself the best [chance], I know where I’m going to hit the ball and I know the options I’m going to take.”

A pugnacious left-hander who credits franchise cricket with taking his game to the next level, Duckett is also encouraged by the England Test side’s new aggressive approach under Ben Stokes and the head coach, Brendon McCullum; in the past he tended to bat within himself in first-class cricket under a belief that a lower strike-rate was desirable.

Duckett said: “I probably put pressure on myself in years gone by. But this summer I saw the Test