Ben Duckett believes that county cricket is in line to reap the rewards of England's revitalised approach to Test cricket, after starring in the Three Lions' whitewash over Pakistan.

The opening batter was instrumental in Ben Stokes' side's 3-0 victory in the subcontinent, scoring 357 runs at an average of 71.40.

In the first Test at Rawalpindi, he and Zak Crawley shared a first-wicket stand of 233 from just 35.4 overs – a marker of the positivity with which England played throughout the series.

The series sweep took Stokes’ streak to nine wins in 10 games since taking the reins as captain. 

“I would be surprised if this style of cricket doesn’t come in this summer,” Duckett said, after scoring his runs at a strike rate of 95.71 on the tour. 

“The way Stokesy and Baz [Brendon McCullum] have set out how they want the game to be played, if you are a young cricketer coming through, that’s the way you’ll break into the side. It’s not necessarily the volume of runs but how you get them. 

“Hopefully this year we will see this kind of cricket round the circuit and teams playing in a more aggressive manner; sides believing they can chase down anything.

“There are definitely things I want to bring back to the Notts dressing room, because it is such a nice environment to be a part of.” 

That feeling within the dressing room has been set by the leadership, claims Duckett, who has been given the backing to play expansively. 

“There were times when you felt like you were playing in a friendly; it was that relaxed in the dressing room and on the pitch,” the 28-year-old said. 

“The scrutiny of the media and everyone watching is tough enough in itself, so they want to take that off us and allow us to enjoy it. 

“Stokesy gives me, like everyone, the backing to just go and play however you want to play. The biggest thing for me was how they speak about losing. I have never played in a team that is so unafraid to lose.

“I’m not sure it would have worked 10 or 15 years ago. But we have all played so much T20 cricket now, and have so many different options with bat and ball, that this is probably the perfect time to be playing this style of cricket.”

Despite a laudable return of runs, Duckett believes he still has more to give, having scored one hundred and three fifties in Pakistan. 

“Baz and Stokes both said to me that I would get a little run at opening, and I knew I had that backing to go and play my way," he said.

“For me to start the series in the way I did made it a lot easier. 

“They were nice conditions and they suit the way I play, so I knew I had to cash in. But, to be honest, I felt like I left runs out there. 

“I probably should have got two hundreds, and in the first game I was disappointed to get out just after reaching 100.

“But I was pretty happy that I went out and played my way and I didn’t change or try to be anyone else.”

Since returning home, Duckett has been named in England squads for an ODI series in South Africa and a Test series in New Zealand in the new year. 

Both are challenges which present the left-hander with further opportunities to prove his worth in the national side, in particular a shot at 50-over cricket.

“That has been a side which has been close to impossible to break into over the last four years, and it is potentially the format that I see as my strongest,” he said. 

“With the World Cup being in India next year, that is something I would love to be a part of. 

“There are a few injuries and some guys to come back into the squad, but hopefully I can get a couple of scores and try and keep myself in the squad.”

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England at Trent Bridge

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