England Captain Ben Stokes Credits Opening Duo for Record-Breaking Chase Against India

Ben Stokes has praised the outstanding 188-run opening partnership between Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, acknowledging it as the cornerstone of England's successful pursuit of a 371-run target against India at Headingley. While Duckett's remarkable 149 grabbed headlines, Stokes emphasized that Crawley's crucial contribution of 65 was equally important, providing a dynamic and supportive presence at the top of the batting order.

The openers laid the foundation for England's memorable win. © Getty

"When chasing 370, a strong start is essential. Minimizing early wicket losses is crucial, and the manner in which Zak and Ducky approached the game at the top of the order was particularly significant," Stokes commented.

He further added, "Zak's contribution was massive. Their styles complement each other perfectly. The left-hand, right-hand combination, with one being a tall player and the other not so much, makes it incredibly difficult for bowlers to settle. Establishing a rhythm becomes a challenge. I am sure the opposition would agree. It can be a nightmare when they are both in for an extended period. Ducky's 149 was fantastic, but Zak's 65 was equally vital. He navigated the situation expertly, understanding that Ducky was on a roll and effectively applying pressure. Their opening partnership has been consistently strong for us over the past few years."

Duckett's dominance against Ravindra Jadeja on the final day was noteworthy, particularly his confident use of the reverse sweep against the rough. Stokes lauded him as one of the world's best players of spin, especially highlighting his proficiency with that particular shot. "I spoke to him during the tea or rain break," Stokes shared. "He's among the best in the world at executing reverse sweeps and is a brilliant player of spin, especially on challenging surfaces."

Stokes even sought Duckett's advice mid-innings, seeking to refine his own strategy against spin. "I had a brief discussion with him about potential adjustments I could make to improve my chances. When you're out there, you feel like you're either moving forward or back, attempting to manipulate the leg side."

"Adopting a clear game plan with reverse sweeps was my approach. While the conditions were challenging, I focused on maintaining clarity and confidence in what I needed to do to unsettle the close-in fielders."

This victory marked the sixth occasion under the leadership of Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum where England successfully chased down a target of 250 or more in the fourth innings. Stokes attributes their success to maintaining simplicity and a relaxed atmosphere.

"I think we’re just... We're a very simple-minded pair, me and Baz, I think, when it comes to cricket. Obviously, everyone knows what cricket's about. It's about scoring one more run than the opposition. And when you strip it all back, that's what it's like. So we just try to keep everything as simple, calm as we possibly can," Stokes said.

"The atmosphere in the dressing room during chases is crucial. The lads have roles to fulfill, and maintaining a calm, relaxed vibe is essential for shaping their mindset when facing pressure in the middle."

"The equation was straightforward. If we batted out the remaining overs, we would win, given the ground's conducive scoring conditions. The scoring rate has consistently been over four an over, even without any team truly pushing, except for Rishabh [Pant]. It's simply a high-scoring ground."