Trophy win would justify India loss – Duckett

Ben Duckett Focused on Champions Trophy Despite Series Defeat in India

England opener Ben Duckett has emphasized that the team’s primary focus is winning the upcoming Champions Trophy, even if they are beaten 3-0 in their ongoing one-day series against India. As England heads into the third and final ODI in Ahmedabad, they are already 2-0 down in the series under Brendon McCullum’s first tour as white-ball coach.

Key Highlights:

• Series Deficit: England has lost six of their seven matches under Brendon McCullum’s leadership, including the first two ODIs against India.
• Duckett’s Focus on Champions Trophy: Duckett stated that despite the poor performance in India, the team’s ultimate goal remains to win the Champions Trophy. “We have come here for one thing, and that is to win the Champions Trophy,” he said.
• Champions Trophy Campaign: England will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against Australia on February 22 in Pakistan. They will also face South Africa and Afghanistan in the group stage.
• India’s Dominance: India, the T20 World Cup champions, have had a dominant run against England, beating them 4-1 in the T20 series and extending their winless streak against India in the ODI series, dating back to 1985.
• Optimism Amidst Struggles: Duckett remained hopeful, emphasizing that the team is focused on peaking at the right time. “We could dwell on the losses, but under Baz (Brendon McCullum), we won’t do that. We’ll take positives and try to turn it around in Pakistan,” he added.
• Squad Changes: England’s squad saw a change with Tom Banton joining the team in India after Jacob Bethell was ruled out of the tour and the Champions Trophy due to a hamstring injury. Banton is expected to replace Bethell in the Champions Trophy squad in the coming days.

McCullum’s Challenge

Brendon McCullum, who was instrumental in revitalizing England’s Test side, now faces one of the toughest challenges in global white-ball cricket. Following a disappointing 2023 World Cup performance and an underwhelming T20 World Cup, McCullum’s task is to rebuild and reinvigorate the England white-ball teams.

While results have been tough in India, Duckett and the team remain resolute in their belief that they can find form and perform well in the Champions Trophy, with eyes firmly set on securing victory in Pakistan.