Duckett

Maintaining – or not maintaining – his fitness has been a recurring theme in Duckett’s career. As a youngster, he twice missed out on tours for failing to meet conditioning standards – once with England Under-19s in 2013, then a Northants pre-season trip in 2015.

This time, with a Test career on the line, he has worked with England fitness coach Pete Sim and Nottinghamshire counterpart Zac Bess to lose “five or six” kilograms.

Duckett added: “I started running, which was good!

“I had a four-week block when I got back from the winter where I didn’t necessarily hit many balls.

“It’s just really important now that I use that hard work that I’ve done and maintain it.

“It’s something I’ve really enjoyed and it’s been great for my mental space and getting away from the game. I went to the gym, I ran a lot and a bit of weight came off.”

The early signs for Duckett were good. Three half-centuries in his first five innings for Notts this summer were followed by an unbeaten double century against Surrey.

He still needed the international worm to turn. In the context of the snakepit pitch, scores of 19 and 33 in England’s first-Test win over New Zealand at Lord’s were useful, only to be followed by more misfortune in the loss at The Oval.

On the second morning, Duckett dropped a simple and crucial catch off Kyle Jamieson as England surrendered the momentum. When he came to bat, he was in glorious touch for 36 before being run out by a never-there call from new opening partner Emilio Gay.

At Trent Bridge, it could have been a similar story. In perfect batting conditions and with England replying to New Zealand’s 438, Duckett made his intentions known with two driven fours off Nathan Smith’s first over of the innings.

Smith, though, would return to find Duckett’s edge. Henry Nicholls should have pouched a simple catch at third slip. When the ball dropped to the turf, Duckett responded by punching the next delivery for four and did not look back.

“I was chatting to [England fielding coach] Sarah Taylor,” said Duckett. “We were making a bit of a joke about how I’ve got to get some luck eventually and that’s how the game works.

“I’m extremely thankful for Henry Nicholls for doing that to me.

“It’s been a really frustrating time, because I’ve not felt out of nick, I’ve just not got the runs that I really want. ‘Mother Cricket’ was there for me today. I got put down and made them pay for it.”

Third Rothesay Test, Trent Bridge (day two of five)

New Zealand 438: Conway 157, Latham 151; Stokes 4-70

England 223-2: Duckett 113, Bethell 74*

England are 215 runs behind

Scorecard

Ben Duckett’s scintillating century built on an inspirational bowling spell from Ben Stokes to haul England back into the decisive third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge.

In a remarkable turnaround from the Black Caps reaching 317-0 at one stage on the opening day, England took all 10 wickets for 121 runs to dismiss the tourists for 438, then closed the second day on 223-2 – 215 behind.

Captain Stokes, back in the side after the nightclub controversy that led him to miss the second Test, was the catalyst with a typically tireless stint in the sweltering heat.

After England failed to make a breakthrough in the first 40 minutes, Stokes’ eight overs yielded three wickets and a dropped catch.

Shoaib Bashir took two in an over and Jofra Archer one, as well as striking Blair Tickner with a blow that eventually ruled the seamer out of the match with concussion. Overall, from their overnight 361-4, New Zealand lost six wickets for 77 runs on Friday.

Given the conditions and the flat pitch it was a superb effort from England, who set about cutting the deficit despite the loss of Emilio Gay for a duck.

With the support of Jacob Bethell, Duckett took advantage of being dropped on eight to register his first Test hundred since last June.

New Zealand were almost powerless to prevent England’s rapid progress, as the second-wicket pair added 179.

Duckett was eventually out for 113, leaving Bethell to move to an unbeaten 74 – his first half-century at home and in the first innings of a Test. Joe Root, at one of his most fruitful venues, reached 21 not out.