Ben Duckett is set to open the batting for England in their upcoming one-day international series against Australia, marking the start of a new role for the talented left-hander. Duckett, who has thrived as a Test opener, will now be handed the opportunity to replicate his success at the top of the order in the limited-overs format, starting with the five-match series at home.

Since November 2022, Duckett has been England’s Test opener, where he has forged a strong partnership with Zak Crawley in the "Bazball" era. His impressive form in red-ball cricket has led to discussions about extending his role into the ODI setup, where he will open alongside Phil Salt. Previously, Will Jacks was Salt’s partner during the T20 series against Australia, but Duckett’s recent performances have made him a strong candidate for the long-term opening role.

According to a report by The Telegraph, England plans to give Duckett an extended run as an ODI opener, hoping that he can mirror the success of other left-handed openers like Australia’s David Warner and New Zealand’s Devon Conway. Duckett has batted at No. 3 and No. 4 in his 11 previous ODI innings, but the shift to the top of the order presents a new challenge for the 29-year-old.

The ODI series between England and Australia kicks off on Thursday, September 19, with Harry Brook leading the team in Jos Buttler's absence.

England Squad for Australia ODIs: Harry Brook (c), Jofra Archer, Jacob Bethell, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Liam Livingstone, Will Jacks, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Reece Topley, John Turner, and Olly Stone.