2 months ago
Ben Duckett has pulled retired of nan upcoming Indian Premier League and now faces a three-year prohibition from nan tourney aft deciding he needs region cricket to statement up his spot successful England’s Test team.
The opener, 31, was signed by Delhi Capitals astatine nan IPL auction successful December successful a woody worthy £200,000 and, pinch nan title starting this weekend, was owed to miss nan first 2 months of nan English season.
But a operation of a mediocre Ashes bid – playing each 5 Tests successful nan 4-1 conclusion for a highest people of 42 – and dense recreation aft reserve duties astatine nan caller T20 World Cup has convinced Duckett to move retired for region champions Nottinghamshire instead.
“It was a very difficult decision, and I want to apologise to everyone astatine Delhi that I won’t beryllium coming,” Duckett told nan Telegraph. “I’ve spent a batch of clip distant from location successful different places, and it felt for illustration nan champion point for maine to do to beryllium fresh to play for England is to beryllium present correct now, astatine home, refreshing my mind and body.
“More importantly, play immoderate four-day cricket for Notts, and effort to find that shape I had past summer. My travel into nan Test squad has travel from region cricket.”
Under IPL rules, players who are signed astatine nan auction and past retreat for reasons different than an wounded are barred from playing successful nan tourney for 3 seasons. Duckett follows Harry Brook, who likewise signed for Delhi successful 2025 earlier pulling retired to prioritise his England career.
Bruised by nan caller Ashes defeat, but having stuck pinch nan existing management, England are now nether unit to refresh nan side. But it whitethorn beryllium that Duckett’s opening partner, Zak Crawley, is nan likelier of nan 2 to make measurement for a newcomer aft failing to warrant an extended run.
While Duckett’s scores were good beneath par successful Australia – he struggled against Mitchell Starc successful peculiar – he has done good wide since his return to nan Test squad successful 2022, averaging 42 pinch six centuries.
Duckett does, however, person immoderate crushed to claw backmost aft a video of him drunk connected a nighttime retired during nan team’s mid-tour break successful Noosa was published connected societal media earlier nan Boxing Day Test.
He added: “I americium sorry for that incident, it was not master and shouldn’t person happened. There is nary hiding distant from it.”
