Our Ben takes to opening like Duck to water

'HE CAN SET TONE FOR US IN EVERY FORMAT'

- David Charlesworth

ENGLAND captain Jos Buttler is backing Ben Duckett to open the batting in all formats.

The busy left-hander will accompany Phil Salt at the top of the order for today's first T20 against India. Duckett has been tone-setter the in Tests for the past couple of years, and nailed down a spot in the ODI side with some eye-catching shows against Australia last summer.

While he has a dozen T20 caps, Duckett has not opened in the format for England since his debut in 2019.

A vacancy, though, has arisen with Buttler staying at No 3 and Will Jacks out of the squad.

Duckett may lack explosiveness but shows intent through his canny 360-degree strokeplay and proficiency on the sweep, and could be England's answer to Australian David Warner.