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In anticipation of the series opener between India and England at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Hyderabad, English white-ball’s wicketkeeper-batter, Sam Billings, offered insightful predictions. These include identifying England’s most successful player and highlighting two major threats that the English team should be wary of.
Sam Billings’ predictions regarding main player for England
Speaking exclusively to ANI during ILT20 in Dubai, Billings expressed his belief that English batter Ben Duckett is poised for a successful tour given his proficiency against spin.
“For England, the best player will be Ben Duckett because he is a very good player of spin, reverse sweep and sweep shot; and I think he will have a very good tour,” Billings was quoted as saying by The Times of India.
Early struggles and improvement under Ben Stokes’ captaincy
This marks Duckett’s second tour to India, the first being in 2016 when he was a middle-order batter new to international cricket. During that initiation, he faced challenges against Ashwin, the current No.1-ranked Test bowler, who dismissed him three times in the first two Tests. Duckett, batting at No.4, managed only 18 runs in three innings and was subsequently dropped after the second Test.
However, his return to Test cricket, under the new leadership of Ben Stokes, has showcased significant improvement. Since 2022, Duckett has maintained an impressive average of 43.12, including a century against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
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Major threats for England in the India series
In highlighting the challenges for England, Billings pointed out that Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will be major threats for his side. Notably, the duo hasn’t allowed any opposition to win a single series in India since 2012, showcasing their mastery in bowling.
“The biggest challenge for England will be Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. I love watching them bowl,” the 32-year-old concluded.
