Ben Duckett, Virat Kohli
Duckett is eyeing a comeback in the top-flight cricket. Image Courtesy: Getty Images

The Story

Star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has been signed by English county Worcestershire for the crucial final leg of the County Championship campaign on Tuesday.

He will replace Australian John Hastings as the county’s overseas player. Top officials of the county are hoping that his presence would help them gain a promotion to Division two of the championship.

The 30-year-old, who is ranked third in the ICC Test bowlers rankings and second in the all-rounder lists, took 17 wickets in the recently concluded tour of Sri Lanka helping India claim their first three-Test series sweep on foreign soil.

This signing has enabled Ashwin to become the first Indian player to play for Worcestershire since Zaheer Khan’s appearance in 2006 season which also played a huge role in his career revival.

Ben Duckett Rues the Missed Opportunity

The 22-year-old tweeted about his happiness to see Ashwin enter the County arena but expressed unhappiness over the fact that he would not have an opportunity to play against him. The left-handed wicket keeper batsman plays for the Northamptonshire who have already played their quota of two matches against Worcestershire this season.

He Tweeted:

Duckett, whose career with the national side is in the early stages, has played four Tests and 3 ODIs so far, making his international debut against Bangladesh last year in October. He was also a part of the squad which toured India.

Duckett’s excitement to face Ashwin is palpable considering the previous two contests he had with the ace-spinner. On both the occasions, the left-hander was undone by the off-spinner for low scores but the youngsters urge to improve his head to head record against the Indian seems to have become a great motivation.