Ben Duckett (England)

Matches 19, Runs 831, Avg 46.16, HS 107, Centuries 2, Fifties 6

With a healthy batting average and a strike rate better than run a ball, Ben Duckett is England’s enforcer at the top, with the responsibility of giving his side flying starts.

He forms a dangerous left-right combination with fellow opener Phil Salt, and together they will be instrumental in Pakistan and UAE, in conditions where batters are expected to play a major role in setting up match-winning totals or executing precise chases.

With the likes of Harry Brook, Joe Root, and Jos Buttler down the order, the temptation might be to give Duckett a free license.

But England management will know that despite his three starts in India, which helped Duckett to 131 runs at a strike rate of 122.42, the later batters weren’t able to keep the momentum going.

Thus, it might be judicious for England to see the impactful opener settle down for longer knocks running into the middle overs for maximum impact.