Chris Read, who featured in England’s inaugural Test tour of Bangladesh back in 2003, is backing Ben Duckett to be a game-changer for the tourists in the forthcoming series.

Watch the full Chris Read interview above.

The Nottinghamshire captain would like to see the Northamptonshire left-hander handed the second opening berth alongside Alastair Cook.    

“I’d like to see Duckett play at the top of the order,” he said. “He’s a ridiculously exciting prospect; very, very talented.

“We’ve seen him a little bit in one-day cricket but his four-day record with Northants is fantastic.

“In somewhere like Bangladesh, where scoring rates could be quite low and the game struggles to go at any pace, he might inject something that could be vital in trying to force results.”

Read, who also kept wicket for his country in Sri Lanka, Australia and the West Indies, believes conditions in Bangladesh are among the most challenging for visiting glovemen, with Jonny Bairstow set to retain the role.

“It’s enjoyable playing in spin friendly conditions because you’re always in the game standing up to the stumps and catching a lot of balls,” said the 38-year-old.

“But I don’t think Bangladesh is quite as spin friendly as India or Sri Lanka.

“If the wickets aren’t particularly spin friendly but you get a lot of them bowling, you don’t see the ball a great deal, then all of a sudden you might get a chance out of nowhere.

“There are challenges stood back as well because you’re probably three or four yards closer to how you would be in England, which means the ball gets to you a whole lot quicker.”

Meanwhile, with the ball, Read expects veteran Gareth Batty to be a key player, even if he doesn’t feature on the field, as spin plays an influencing role across the Test series.

“I would expect two spinners, unless the wickets look like they will turn square very early on as they might well do in India,” said Read.

“I can’t see them playing three spinners and I would have thought (Mooen) Ali and (Adil) Rashid will get the nod.

“Having said that, England have vast experience in Gareth Batty and – if you’re going to take a 39-year-old to a Test series – there’s an argument to say you’re taking him because he’s the best bowler.

“Whichever way you look at it, Batty will be a great help for the other guys.

“He will be a massive resource, not only for his playing ability should he get the chance, but almost in a mentoring capacity for the other spinners.

“It will be hard to score and slow bowling will come into the game.

“I don’t recall there being massively turning wickets, I just feel that a lot of spin will be bowled because there won’t be a lot in it for the seamers.

“The pitches have looked quite dead during the one-day series. If you multiply that over five days. you can see how spinners are going to come into it.

“The biggest barrier to England winning will be how they adjust to those conditions.”

Watch the full Chris Read interview above.

 

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