Cricket May 02, 2026

County Championship: Ben Duckett makes his first half-century of season for Nottinghamshire to strengthen England place

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
County Championship: Ben Duckett makes his first half-century of season for Nottinghamshire to strengthen England place

Ben Duckett made his first half-century of the season for Nottinghamshire to help strengthen his position at the top of England's Test order.

The left-hander failed to make a fifty and averaged just 20.20 during the Ashes, with his off-field indiscipline also making headlines, putting his place for the first Test of the summer against New Zealand in June in some doubt.

His first County Championship match of the season yielded scores of 25 and one against Glamorgan but Duckett played patiently at Trent Bridge to help the defending champions respond to Warwickshire's commanding first-innings total of 459 in the Division One clash.

Haseeb Hameed's hopes of an international recall appear slim as his tough start to the campaign continued with a 14-ball duck, as Ben Slater soon followed for 26.

But Duckett and Joe Clarke shared a 116-run stand to steer Notts away from trouble. Duckett gifted his wicket away for 62 on the stroke of tea, driving loosely at a looping delivery from Rob Yates and picking out Chris Woakes at mid on.

Ollie Pope continued to press his claims for a Test recall with 69 for Surrey at home to Essex.

Pope also endured a difficult Ashes series and was dropped after the third Test in Adelaide, with his replacement Jacob Bethell making a brilliant century in the final match in Sydney.

The 28-year-old said ahead of the season that he was told to "go back and score lots of runs" and he followed up scores of 103 and 83 not out against Leicestershire with another impressive display against Essex.

In response to Essex's 409 all out, Surrey lost Rory Burns and in-form England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith cheaply but Pope rebuilt alongside Dom Sibley - also hoping to put himself in the Test frame.

The pair shared a 105-run stand before Pope miscued a drive straight back to Jamie Porter.

Tags:

cricket news

Share this article

Related Posts

Ashes hopeful Jacob Bethell hits 71 and Asa Tribe a century but England Lions thumped by Australia A in Brisbane

Ashes hopeful Jacob Bethell hits 71 and Asa Tribe a century but England Lions thumped by Australia A in Brisbane

Jacob Bethell's 71 was one of the few highlights for the Lions as England's second-string suffered a thumping innings defeat to Australia A in the uno...

The Ashes: Ben Stokes showed England batting template and that he is still up for the fight, says Michael Atherton

The Ashes: Ben Stokes showed England batting template and that he is still up for the fight, says Michael Atherton

After England's two-day pummelling in Perth was followed by a four-day drubbing in Brisbane - where they have still not won a Test since 1986 - Michae...

The Ashes: Ollie Pope's 'chaotic' innings set tone for England latest batting failure in Adelaide, says Nasser Hussain

The Ashes: Ollie Pope's 'chaotic' innings set tone for England latest batting failure in Adelaide, says Nasser Hussain

Ollie Pope's "chaotic" 10-ball stay at the crease set the tone for another England batting failure on day two of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide, say...

South Africa dismissed for lowest-ever T20 total of 74 as India win series opener by 101 runs in Cuttack

South Africa dismissed for lowest-ever T20 total of 74 as India win series opener by 101 runs in Cuttack

South Africa were all out for their lowest-ever total in T20 cricket, scoring only 74 as India won the series opener by 101 runs on Tuesday.Hardik Pan...

Ben Duckett: England captain Ben Stokes pledges support for under-fire opener

Ben Duckett: England captain Ben Stokes pledges support for under-fire opener

England captain Ben Stokes has thrown a protective arm around his beleaguered side and pledged his support for under-fire opener Ben Duckett.The touri...

New Zealand vs West Indies: Tom Latham, Devon Conway make Test cricket history with centuries apiece in both innings

New Zealand vs West Indies: Tom Latham, Devon Conway make Test cricket history with centuries apiece in both innings

Tom Latham and Devon Conway earned a unique place in Test history when their 192-run second innings partnership paved the way for New Zealand's declar...