Duckett beginning to fire after position switch-up

A self-proposed move down the order by Ben Duckett has been the catalyst for his run of hot form, with the Brisbane Heat batter crediting a comfort within his own game for back-to-back KFC BBL fifties.

The Englishman, who scored a superb 78 to lead his side to victory against the Adelaide Strikers last Thursday, was in fine touch again in Monday night's loss to the Melbourne Stars, reaching 54 off 35 balls before holing out to deep mid-wicket.

Batting at No.3 for the Heat's opening four matches, the overseas star was dissatisfied with his output, so suggested a change of tactic that is currently paying dividends.

"I actually went up to the coach and the captain and said I think I should bat four, purely because I like to give myself a bit of time," Duckett said.

"I couldn't really (give myself time against the Stars), but I feel like I was probably picked in this side to play against the spin and the middle overs, and I wasn't really doing that before.

"I felt dropping down to four and trying to be the glue of the team would be better for us."

It says a lot about the frame of mind the 27-year-old is in, with his experience in multiple teams and competitions allowing him to know when and where he's playing his best cricket. 

"I think I've just learned to do myself as much as I can and sometimes it comes off like tonight, sometimes it doesn't," Duckett said after the 20-run defeat against the Stars.

"That's something that over the last couple of years I've just tried to do as well as I can, obviously in this game, with Lynny (Chris Lynn), you want to be watching those guys and you want to be hitting massive sixes.

"But when I'm batting against spin, with my sweeps, it's something that I back myself with back home and I'm really glad (that) over the last couple of games I've managed to contribute."

Duckett and BBL stalwart Chris Lynn put together a rapid 87-run partnership, salvaging the Bash Boost point for the Heat in their chase of the Stars' 9-207.

With Lynn hitting form with 57 off 34 balls, Duckett said it was only a matter of time before everything clicked for the Brisbane side, who currently sit outside the top five with two wins and four losses.

"On other days we would've gotten over the line today, so it was nice to give them (fans) something to cheer about even though we didn't win," he said.

"We're doing a lot of things right; we're just falling short.

"I think the best teams around find ways of just getting over the line and we're just not doing that at the minute.

"There's a lot of cricket to be played and a lot of points up for grabs, so I've spoken to the lads and I've been lucky enough to play in sides that have won competitions.

"It's not about peaking now it's about peaking towards the back end … hopefully moving forward we can start getting things right and getting over the line."

Their first chance to do so will come quickly, as they take on the reigning champions and second placed Sydney Sixers on Wednesday night, who are set to unleash international spin wiz Shadab Khan.

Shadab, who arrived from Pakistan last week, was set to debut in the Sixers' Boxing Day victory over rivals the Sydney Thunder but was a delayed COVID test result kept him sidelined.

He has been cleared to play against the Heat but faces different restrictions to his teammates.

The 24-year-old is unable to train with the rest of the Sixers squad until he has been in Australia for seven days, and will have his own dressing room, and be barred from celebrating with teammates in the clash at the SCG.

But Shadab is just thankful to be preparing to play some cricket and was looking forward to coming up against a side he had a successful but brief stint with in BBL|07, where he took six wickets in three games in Heat colours.

"Now days in the whole world there's strange things that are happening. I understand because everywhere is the same, so hopefully I will join them (teammates) later," Shadab said.

"I'm very happy because I'm coming back and playing big bash after four years.

"It's very exciting because I played for them four years before, so I'm excited to play against them now.

"I'm an overseas player so you have to perform like a pro, so I will try my best to perform for the team."

Shadab's inclusion sets up an intriguing battle against the in-form Duckett, whose sweeps and reverse sweeps against spin bowling have been features of his two fifties.

"I've played against Chris Lynn, Ben Duckett and Mujeeb, we've played international games," Shadab said.

The leg-spinner comes into the Sixers set up after they lost experienced duo Steve O'Keefe (calf) and Ben Manenti (neck) to injury, fresh from his 4-26 against Australia in the semi-final of the recent T20 World Cup in the UAE.

"It was a great spell, but unfortunately we didn't win," Shadab said. "I know I come with a reputation and hopefully I try my best to do the same here."