Ben Duckett praised Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum for encouraging positivity at the crease following the first day of England’s second Test versus Pakistan. 

Notts’ top order batter top scored with a 49-ball 63 as the visitors were bowled out for 281 on a spinning wicket in Multan. 

The left-hander swept prodigiously against leg-spinner Abrar Ahmed, who took seven wickets on debut, before stating the backing he received to be proactive facilitated his decision making.

“My approach is pretty obvious, I said to myself I was going to sweep both ways. I’d much rather get out playing that shot than playing a forward defense,” Duckett explained.

“I felt comfortable facing Abrar; when you are sweeping you don’t tend to worry about whether it is his googly or not. 

“We’ll have our plans for him in the second innings, but I’m pretty sure we won’t be blocking it. 

“Two years ago I might have played differently, but I’ve got the backing of the captain and coach.”

It is a matter of commitment and belief for Duckett, who led the charge as England swept 46% of the balls faced from the spin in the first session according to CricViz, with the 28-year-old using conventional and reverse sweeps to good effect.

“It depends a lot on the field [as to what kind of sweep is played],” he said. 

“When certain fields are set there are shots I can play where I field like I can’t get out. Generally I will reverse when I feel like there is space in the right area. 

“There is not too much thought, I will decide when the bowler is at the top of his mark and try to fully commit to it.

“For me, a sweep is kind of my forward defense. I am gutted that I have missed two in the last two games. There is a chance I’ll get out to it again, but it is a shot that I commit to and it is a go-to option. 

Pakistan finished the day 107-2, 174 runs short of England’s total and Duckett believes England are well and truly in contention with quick wickets in the morning crucial.

“I think we are pretty happy - on other days we might have got 350,” he said.

“We know we are a couple of wickets away in the morning from today being a good day. We were really focussed on being positive. 

“If we didn’t score at that rate [5.4 rpo] it could have easily been 150 all out. It is pretty clear what our game plan is, and the more it spins the harder it will get. We certainly won’t go into our shell.”