Trescothick Comments on Duckett and Akash Deep's Banter During Fifth Test

Friendly Banter on the Field

London [UK], August 2: Marcus Trescothick, England's Assistant Coach, shared insights on the light-hearted exchange between Ben Duckett and Indian bowler Akash Deep during the opening session of day two in the fifth and final Test at The Oval.

Trescothick emphasized that when a batsman is dismissed, it's best to maintain composure and exit the field without fanfare, suggesting that Akash Deep's approach to Duckett was unnecessary.

During the session, Duckett attempted to rattle Akash Deep by declaring, "You cannot get me out in here." In a playful response, Duckett executed a reversed ramp shot, much to the delight of the home crowd.

However, Akash Deep quickly turned the situation around, dismissing Duckett for 43 runs off 38 balls, which included five boundaries and two sixes. Following the wicket, Akash celebrated by pumping his fist in front of Duckett and sharing a friendly moment with him.

Trescothick remarked, "I've never seen a bowler celebrate like that after taking a wicket. While banter is common in cricket, this was a unique display. Typically, a bowler should just walk off after doing their job without any theatrics."

He also addressed the topic of substitutes for injured players, stating that the existing rules have served the game well for years and should remain unchanged.

As Day 2 of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 commenced, England faced a setback with Chris Woakes ruled out due to a shoulder injury.

Trescothick noted, "Test matches are what they are, and there's no need for excessive adjustments. We are witnessing quality cricket across all test-playing nations, and the established rules have proven effective over time."

He assessed the match as evenly balanced, predicting that the pitch would continue to offer lively conditions and more seam movement as play progressed.

At the conclusion of the day's play, India was in a strong position, leading by 52 runs with a score of 75/2, thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal's unbeaten 51 runs and Akash Deep's 4 runs. In their first innings, England managed 247 runs, while India scored 224. Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj each took four wickets, significantly hindering England's batting.

As the final session began, England was at 215/7, with Harry Brook (33*) and Gus Atkinson at the crease.

Brief Scores: England: 247 (Zak Crawley 64, Harry Brook 53, Prasidh Krishna 4/62) vs India: 224 and 75/2 (Yashasvi Jaiswal 51*, Sai Sudharsan 11, Gus Atkinson 1/26).