I've Faced Bumrah Before, He Is Not Going To Surprise Me: Ben Duckett

England opener Ben Duckett admitted that it would be challenging to come up against Jasprit Bumrah in the five-Test series against India later this year but insisted that the Indian seamer will not ‘surprise him’ as he knows exactly what he’s going to get from the team India spearhead.

Duckett faced Bumrah in the five-Test series in India last year and fared exceptionally well, scoring 63 off 94 balls while getting dismissed just once, but those were in conditions which were brutal for seam bowling. Bumrah’s last appearance in Test cricket came on surfaces that were conducive to seam, and there he wreaked absolute havoc, taking 32 wickets at a ludicrous average of 13.06.

But Duckett believes he’s ready for what’s set to be thrown at him.

“I’ve faced him in a five-Test series before. I know what he’s going to do to me, and the good thing about that is I know what skills he has,” Duckett told Mail Sport.

“There’s going to be nothing that surprises me. It’s going to be challenging, and the red-ball skills Mohammed Shami has are just as threatening as Bumrah. But if I can get through that opening spell, I feel there are runs to be had.”

Both India and England will begin their respective WTC 2025-27 cycles with a five-Test series against each other in England. The last India-England Test series in England ended 2-2, but Duckett believes that the Three Lions can and ‘should’ beat this Indian team at home.

“India at home is very different to India away. It’s a side I feel we should beat, and we can beat. It’ll be a good series,” Duckett said. 

The five-Test series will be played from June 20 onwards. The first Test will be played at Headingley, Leeds.