Wed Jan 07 02:50:00 UTC 2026: Headline: Ben Duckett’s Ashes Struggles Continue, Joins Unwanted Record List
The Story:
English opening batsman Ben Duckett concluded the Ashes series with another disappointing performance, scoring 42 runs in the second innings of the Sydney Test. This marked the end of a series where he failed to score a single half-century. England’s loss in the Ashes can be partly attributed to the poor performance of their opening batsmen. Duckett now joins a list of batsmen who have played at the top three positions in an Ashes series and failed to score a half-century in 10 or more innings, highlighting a significant batting slump.
Key Points:
* Ben Duckett scored 42 in his final innings of the Ashes series.
* He did not score any half-centuries in the entire series.
* Duckett joins a list of four batsmen who have failed to score a half-century in 10+ innings while batting in the top 3 in an Ashes series, including Cyril Washbrook (1950/51), John Edrich (1972), and Kim Hughes (1978/79).
* Duckett scored 202 runs in 10 innings at an average of 20.20.
* His opening partner, Zak Crawley, scored 273 runs at an average of 27, with 2 half-centuries.
* In his Test career, Duckett has scored over 3,000 runs in 43 matches with an average of 39.92, including 6 centuries and 16 half-centuries.
Key Takeaways:
* Ben Duckett’s struggles in the Ashes series have contributed to England’s batting woes.
* The lack of substantial scores from the top order has been a significant factor in England’s defeat.
* Duckett’s overall Test career stats are considerably better than his performance in this Ashes series, indicating a potential issue with adapting to the specific conditions or pressures of the Ashes.
First Piper 