Ben Duckett and Dawid Malan are back in Northampton with the Lions for the second time in 11 months – and would have no complaints if the feeling of déjà vu continues in the second match of the Royal London One-Day Series against South Africa A tomorrow.
Malan made an unbeaten 185 in a Lions total of 393 for five against Sri Lanka A last July, both List A records for the Lions or the England A and B teams who preceded them – although both those records were broken four days later in Canterbury, where Duckett smashed 220 in a 50-over total of 425 for one.
“We’d settle for the same again,” agreed Duckett ahead of the return to his home county ground, having chipped in with 61 in Northampton last year – on that occasion batting at number three.
Duckett has formed an all left-handed opening partnership with Malan in this year’s Lions one-day series, and they made an impressive start with a stand of 134 inside 18 overs in a convincing win at Trent Bridge yesterday.
Duckett, who kicked on from his success with the Lions and Northants last summer to play seven times for England, made most of the early running with a 43-ball half century, but was disappointed to fall for 69.
Malan cashed in more hungrily, batting on to an unbeaten 125 – making him the second player to score three List A centuries for the Lions, in his case in only nine appearances, whereas James Taylor made four in his 32 matches.
The Middlesex left-hander scored yet another unbeaten century in the North-South Series in Dubai in March, so he could hardly have done more to make his point to the England selectors – having already earned a place in the T20 squad last summer through his Lions form.
“For me it’s massively about proving a point, every time I pull on a Lions shirt and in the North-South Series as well,” he said. “The only way I can do that is by scoring runs, because everyone can talk a good game but if you have runs on paper you have something to back up your claim. Hopefully I can finish off the rest of this Lions series well and put pressure on the selectors to have a look at me.
“I like chasing, and I like to be there at the end. You get it wrong sometimes but it’s something I find enjoyable and exciting.”
Duckett had already provided one of the highlights of the day before he batted, with a stunning catch at short extra cover to dismiss South Africa’s captain Khaya Zondo.
“I was pretty surprised it stuck,” he said with a grin. “I’d definitely rank that as one of the best I’ve taken. I prefer being in the ring in the action, just reacting a bit.”
Now he will be on home territory for the rest of the series, which concludes with a day-night match in Northampton on Monday.
“I’m looking forward to being at Northants again,” Duckett added ahead of tomorrow’s game, which starts at 11am with free admission. “I know the ground pretty well, and it will be interesting to see what wicket we get - normally the one-day wickets are pretty good to bat on, so I’m really looking forward to it."