England's Ben Duckett 'not going to die wondering' against 'world-class' Ravichandran Ashwin in India Test series

England opener Ben Duckett insists he "won't die wondering" when he comes up against "world-class" India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin this winter.

The pair will face off when Ben Stokes' side play India in a five-Test series, starting in Hyderabad on January 25.

It will be Duckett's first tour of India since 2016, when he was dropped after two games after being dismissed three times in as many innings by Ashwin.

And although he expects the spinner to outwit him once more, Duckett says he's going to continue with the aggressive brand of batting that has been so successful since he was recalled to the team for the 3-0 victory in Pakistan 14 months ago.

"I wasn't the last left-hander to struggle out there in those conditions against Ashwin," he told Sky Sports. "He's so good everywhere.

"I'm sure he's going to get me out again. He's a world-class bowler.

"But I would back myself now on a good pitch or a flatter pitch to not feel like I have to play aggressive shots or sweep every ball.

"If those pitches are spinning, and with the way this team have played over the last 18 months, I know what my strengths are and I'm certainly not going to die wondering."

Duckett registered scores of just 13, 5 and zero on that tour of India eight years ago, leading to a long stint honing his skills in county cricket.

But he has been a key part of the 'Bazball' revolution since returning to the national team, scoring six 50s and two centuries across 11 matches.

He believes his batting has improved significantly since his first crack at the five-day game, and hopes to use that experience to his advantage.

"I've played a lot of cricket since then," he continued. "Maturity is a big one for me in those years.

"The more it spins my bat is going to be extremely horizontal. But that’s one thing I’m working on. I think to myself now that I’ve got over 10 sweep shots on both sides of the wicket.

"I did it a bit in Pakistan and it’s not that I’m trying to smack every ball for four. I’ve got different gears to go up in all those different sweep shots and it’s something I’ve been thinking about."

England are aiming to become the first team to win a Test series in India since Alastair Cook's side picked up a 2-1 win there in 2012/13.

Recent trips have been somewhat less successful, with India coming out on top in 2016 and 2021, when they won 4-0 and 3-1 respectively.

But the appointment of Stokes as skipper, and Brendon McCullum as head coach, have revitalised England and they have revolutionised the five-day game by adopting an aggressive approach with both bat and ball.

Duckett insists there's no plan for that to change, despite coming up against such a world-class opponent.

"If we feel like it’s going to be a terrible pitch sometimes getting 50 off 60 or whatever that may be is going to be a valuable knock for the team," he said.

"Certainly at times we might have to, although they are an incredible seam attack, potentially try and take the seam down before the spin comes on.

"These are just little things that I’m really looking forward to because I know under Baz and Stokesy we will have full license to go and do whatever we want."

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