England opener Ben Duckett’s claim that Indian counterpart Yashasvi Jaiswal has adopted his aggressive batting approach from England’s ‘Bazball’ is earning him a fair share of flak. After Nasser Hussain claimed Yashasvi’s brilliance came from his upbringing and his hard work, Michael Clarke on Tuesday slammed Duckett for the remark. Clarke wondered if Duckett ever saw how Australia comprising of Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and others approached Test matches.
England faced a comprehensive drubbing at the hands of India in the IND vs ENG 3rd Test in Rajkot. Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal had a huge part to play in India’s series-leading win, playing a fantastic knock of 214 not out in the second innings.
Duckett, after the match, said, “When you see players from the opposition playing like that, it almost feels like we should take some credit that they’re playing differently than how other people play Test cricket.”
That comment hasn’t sat well with the former cricketers. Nasser Hussain slammed the England opener for the remark. Now, Michael Clarke has reacted to it.
“He must have missed Australia for 20 years,” Clarke said. “As a youngster, he must not know what Test cricket Australia played. Has he heard of Matthew Hayden, Michael Slater, Ricky Ponting, Damien Martyn, Adam Gilchrist? These guys used to smack it as good as everyone.”
Clarke also reminded Duckett that playing a reverse sweep or a switch hit doesn’t necessarily mean they’re playing attacking cricket.
“Because you play a reverse sweep or a switch hit or a ramp shot, that doesn’t mean you are batting aggressively either. Matthew Hayden just walked down the wicket and hit you straight over your head for a six. He didn’t have to play a ramp or a switch hit.”
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