Ben Duckett has credited a dedicated fitness program, which resulted in a loss of "five or six" kilograms, for his return to form, culminating in a century for England against New Zealand. This focus on conditioning marks a departure from earlier stages of his career when he faced challenges meeting fitness standards.
Duckett worked with England fitness coach Pete Sim and Nottinghamshire counterpart Zac Bess. His fitness regimen included running and gym work over a four-week period after the Ashes, which he found beneficial for both physical and mental well-being, providing a respite from the game. The initial results of this effort were evident in his early season performances for Nottinghamshire, where he scored three half-centuries and an unbeaten double century.
Despite these county performances, Duckett sought to translate his form to the international stage. In the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's, he scored 19 and 33. The second Test at The Oval saw further frustration when he dropped a crucial catch and was then run out at The Oval.
During the third Test at Trent Bridge, Duckett found himself dropped on 19 by Henry Nicholls at third slip. He capitalized on this reprieve, going on to score a century. Duckett noted the role of luck in cricket and expressed gratitude for the dropped chance, stating, "It's been a really frustrating time, because I've not felt out of nick, I've just not got the runs that I really want. 'Mother Cricket' was there for me today. I got put down and made them pay for it."