Birthday boy Duckett shines again for England

Ben Duckett celebrated his 22nd birthday yesterday by scoring another half-century in England’s final warm-up before a series against Bangladesh, enhancing his prospects of a Test debut. Duckett hit 60 including 10 fours as England reached 256 all out in their only innings, replying to a Bangladesh Cricket Board XI’s total of 294 at Chittagong’s MA Aziz stadium.
Duckett retired after completing his fourth half century in the last five innings to allow other England batsmen to get some kind of practice, although few of his teammates made the most of their opportunity. “It’s nice to get out in the middle and play a game as opposed to playing in the nets,” Duckett said after the match.
Haseeb Hameed, who is vying with the left-hander Duckett for a place at the top of the order in Thursday’s opening Test in Chittagong, hit 57 off 125 balls before he also retired. Duckett played down the competition between the two batsmen, neither of whom has made their Test debut.
“We are teammates at the end of the day, so it’s not necessarily competition,” he said of the 19-year-old Lancashire player. “Whoever plays sure deserves it. Like he did today, Has can bat for days. That’s the way we play, we are different players.”
After Duckett and Hameed’s retirements, stand-in skipper Joe Root made 24 before becoming the first of three quick wickets for left-spinner Tanvir Haider soon after the lunch break. Tanvir, who finished with 4-53, had Root caught by wicketkeeper Nurul Hasan before he dismissed Jonny Bairstow (six) and Jos Buttler (four).
Paceman Subashis Roy bowled Ben Stokes for 25 but Gary Ballance played a patient knock to remain unbeaten on 36. After the match beginning in Chittagong on Thursday, the teams will head to Dhaka for the second and final Test.

Adams brings to an end coaching reign at Kent
Former West Indies cricket great Jimmy Adams is ending his five year spell as head coach of English county Kent, he announced yesterday.
The 48-year-old — who played 54 Tests and 127 One Day Internationals from 1992 to 2003 — will be returning to Jamaica.
“I’ve enjoyed my time at Kent which has been a great learning experience for me,” Adams told the county side’s website.
“I wanted to be involved in a club that was seeking to grow and I am fortunate to have found that here at Kent over the past five seasons.
“It’s been a delight being involved with all our players as they have developed during the period and especially watching the younger players who have made the step up to First Class level.” Club chairman George Kennedy said that the fruits of Adams’s labours was evident from the home grown talent now in the squad. “We thank Jimmy for his fine service of the club and wish him all the best for the future,” said Kennedy.
“His commitment to developing Kentish cricket talent is shown by the core of homegrown players now at the heart of our professional squad.”