Despite a horrific outing on day three of the Rajkot Test, Ben Duckett came out with a defiant statement that India are still wary of England’s Bazballing ways.
England, who started on Saturday with a score of 207 for 2, were bundled out for just 319 runs, giving India the lead. Duckett himself would add just 20 more to his overnight score of 133 as Mohammed Siraj and others stepped up in the absence of R Ashwin.
Siraj picked up three wickets, including two beautiful yorkers, while Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja picked up two wickets each as England went from 299 for 6 to 319-all out in the space of just 6.1 overs.
IND vs ENG, 3rd Test: Day 3 Report
Yashasvi Jaiswal’s brilliant hundred and partnership with Shubman Gill would see India extend their lead to 322 runs at stumps. However, after Jaiswal had to go off the field, retired hurt due to back spasm and Rajat Patidar got out for a duck, India decided to send in Kuldeep as the nightwatchman.
Duckett pointed out to this fact while talking to TNT Sports and said that they would be continuing to play in similar fashion throughout the game.
“India sending in a nightwatchman when they are over 300 ahead shows they are slightly wary of us.”
“We are going to continue the way that we play and if we get two or three blokes in on that pitch scoring quickly, you never know what can happen,” said Duckett.
England’s attacking didn’t pay off on Day three: Ben Duckett
Duckett went on to give credit to India for the way they bowled on Saturday and felt that the England batters weren’t given anything to get momentum on the day. The England opener went on to say that they were trying to attack but nothing was paying off in the end.
“You have to give credit to the way India played this evening.”
“I thought we batted superbly last night but they gave us nothing this morning and bowled really well.”
“We were attacking but it just didn’t pay off,” said Duckett.
India will resume things on day four with Gill unbeaten on 65 and Kuldeep on 3.
