Englishman Ben Duckett can't wait to play in the Big Bash against his fellow countrymen. (Image: @TrentBridge/Twitter)
BBL|11 will be Ben Duckett’s first summer playing in the competition, and the Englishman can’t wait to make his debut for the Brisbane Heat.
The left-handed batter is coming into the tournament off the back of playing in the Vitality Blast with Nottinghamshire and The Hundred with the Welsh Fire.
In the Vitality Blast, Duckett finished in the top 15 run scorers, scoring 383 runs in 12 innings, at an average of 34.81 and a strike rate of 158.26. In The Hundred, he finished second in total runs scored, scoring 232 runs in eight innings, at an average of 29.
Duckett told media at the BBL Launch Day in Sydney that he is feeling good coming into BBL|11.
“I’ve had a good couple of summers. I had two winters where I was at home in England and did a lot with my coach Peter Moores [and] really found my strengths again,” he said.
“Obviously, that was a couple of months ago now, but it’s nice to have had a good summer coming into it.”
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14 English players (including Duckett) have made their way to Australia to take part in this year’s Big Bash. Duckett will be accompanied at the Heat by countryman Tom Abell.
Despite not knowing any of his teammates, the 27-year-old is excited by the prospect of getting to know them and is looking forward to batting with the powerful Chris Lynn.
“I don’t know a great amount of them, I know Lynny a bit, it’ll be lovely to bat and stand at the other end whilst he’s whacking the ball miles. I certainly won’t try and replicate what he does,” Duckett said.
“I know Tom Abell who’s signed, I don’t know how much people will know about him out here, but he’s been superb for Somerset. It’s just really nice to be playing in a side where I don’t know many players and can make new mates.”
The Heat’s first match is against the Sydney Thunder, whose three internationals (Alex Hales, Sam Billings and Saqib Mahmood) are all English. Duckett said he is looking forward to playing against his fellow countrymen.
“They’ve got three, their three overseas [players] are all English. I’m just really looking forward to getting started, I’ve been here a week and [have been] by myself,” the wicketkeeper said.
“I’m getting a bit bored so I’m really looking forward to joining the lads and hopefully we can start the competition well.”
The Brisbane Heat opens their season against the Sydney Thunder in Canberra at Manuka Oval, on Monday, December 6.
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