Duckett unfazed by Bumrah ahead of ENG-IND Test series: Details
What's the story
England opener Ben Duckett has backed himself to face Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah when the two sides meet for a five-match Test series, starting June 20, 2025.
Speaking to Daily Mail, Duckett said, "I've faced him in a five-Test series before. I know what he's going to do to me, and the good thing about that is I know what skills he has."
The England batsman further stressed on his preparedness to face Bumrah's skills.
Here's more.
Tough competition
Duckett acknowledges challenge from Bumrah and Shami
Duckett admitted the challenge of both Bumrah and Mohammed Shami.
He said, "It's going to be challenging, and the red-ball skills of Mohammed Shami are just as threatening as Bumrah."
However, he also added if he can survive their first spell, there would be opportunities to score runs.
This highlights his confidence of tackling top-tier bowlers in the upcoming series.
Series impact
Bumrah's pivotal role in India's 2024 series win
Last year, England toured India and lost the series 4-1 after winning the first Test in Hyderabad.
Bumrah was the star for India in the series, picking 19 wickets at an astonishing average of 16.89.
His memorable spell of 6/45 in Visakhapatnam on a flat pitch turned the Test match and series' tide.
Expert advice
Shane Bond advises cautious approach with Bumrah
Former New Zealand pacer Shane Bond recently advised India against overusing Bumrah during the summer.
Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Bond said, "They may say, look, it's four Test matches in total. Or three. If we can get him through the English summer and he's fit, we can probably then go with some confidence that we can carry him across the rest of the formats."
He warned about potential career-ending injuries if Bumrah were to sustain another injury in the same spot.
Information
How has Duckett fared against Bumrah in Tests?
Across 7 innings, Bumrah has dismissed Duckett once in Tests, as per ESPNcricinfo. Duckett has scored 63 runs from 94 balls, striking at 67.02. He has faced 67 dot balls.