England's Skipper Stokes Lauds Opening Duo After Record-Breaking Chase Against India

Ben Stokes lauded the significant 188-run opening stand between Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, acknowledging it as the cornerstone of England's successful pursuit of a 371-run target against India in the Headingley Test. While Duckett's impressive 149 grabbed headlines, Stokes emphasized Crawley's equally crucial contribution of 65, highlighting their disruptive and complementary partnership at the top of the order.

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

"When you're chasing 370, a good start is essential. Minimizing early wicket losses is crucial, and the way Zak and Duckett approached it, dominating the top order, was particularly significant," Stokes stated.

He further elaborated on the dynamic between Crawley and Duckett: "They complement each other exceptionally well. The left-hand, right-hand combination, the contrast in their statures, makes it challenging for bowlers to settle. When they both get going, it's difficult to find a rhythm. It can be a nightmare for the opposition when they're in for a long period. Duckett's 149 was outstanding, but Crawley's 65 was equally vital. He managed the situation expertly, recognizing that Duckett was on a roll and effectively applying pressure. Their opening partnership has been consistently strong over the past few years."

Duckett's dominance against Ravindra Jadeja on the final day, particularly his bold deployment of the reverse sweep, drew special praise. Stokes hailed him as one of the world's best players of spin, particularly for his execution of that shot. "I spoke to him during the tea or rain break," Stokes revealed. "He's one of the best in the world at reverse sweeping and is a fantastic player of spin, especially on tricky surfaces."

Stokes even sought Duckett's advice during his own innings, seeking insights into countering the spin attack. "I asked him what he thought I could do to improve my chances. In that situation, you feel like you need to either get forward or back and try to manipulate the leg side."

"Adopting a clear game plan and using the reverse sweep was my strategy. It was a difficult condition, but I remained confident in what I needed to do to unsettle the close-in fielders."

This victory marked the sixth instance under Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum where England successfully chased a target of 250 or more in the fourth innings. Stokes attributes this success to their ability to maintain a simple and relaxed approach.

"Me and Baz are a simple-minded pair when it comes to cricket. Everyone knows the objective: score one more run than the opposition. We try to keep everything as simple and calm as possible," Stokes explained.

"The atmosphere in the dressing room is crucial when chasing totals like that. The lads have a job to do, and maintaining a calm, relaxed vibe is essential for their mindset when they're out there facing the pressure.

"The equation was simple: if we bat the remaining overs, we'll win, given the scoring rate of this ground. Without any team really pushing, the scoring rate has been over four an over, except perhaps for Rishabh [Pant]. It's just a very quick-scoring ground."