England Captain Stokes Credits Opening Duo for Setting Up Thrilling Chase Against India

Ben Stokes, the England captain, has praised the exceptional opening partnership between Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, acknowledging their crucial role in setting the stage for England's remarkable fourth-innings chase of 371 against India at Headingley.

While Duckett's stunning 149 grabbed headlines, Stokes emphasized that Crawley's contribution of 65 was equally important, as they effectively disrupted the opposition's bowling attack.

England's openers celebrate a solid partnership. © Getty

"When you're chasing 370, a good start is vital. Minimizing early wickets is crucial, and the way Zak and Duckett approached it was huge," Stokes stated.

He further elaborated on the dynamic between the two batsmen: "Zak's innings was massive. They complement each other perfectly – left hand, right hand, different statures. It's incredibly tough for bowlers to settle when they're both firing. Finding a rhythm becomes a nightmare. Duckett's 149 was incredible, but Zak's 65 was equally vital in applying pressure. Their opening partnership has been consistently excellent for us in recent years."

Stokes also highlighted Duckett's dominance against Ravindra Jadeja, particularly his fearless deployment of the reverse sweep. He considers Duckett one of the best players of spin in the world, especially when utilizing that particular shot. "I spoke to him during the tea break about his reverse sweeps. He's world-class at it and a fantastic player of spin, especially on difficult surfaces," Stokes remarked.

Such was his confidence in Duckett's ability, Stokes even sought advice from him during his own innings, aiming to improve his approach against spin. "I asked him what he thought I could do to improve my chances. I felt like I was either going too far forward or too far back, trying to manipulate the ball on the leg side."

Stokes added, "I went in with a clear game plan, incorporating reverse sweeps. It's tough out there, but it's about staying clear and confident in my approach to put the pressure back on the fielders."

This victory marked the sixth time under the leadership of Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum that England has successfully chased down a target of 250 or more in the fourth innings. Stokes attributes this success to their ability to maintain simplicity and composure.

"We're a simple-minded pair, Baz and I, when it comes to cricket. Ultimately, it's about scoring one more run than the opposition. We try to keep everything as simple and calm as possible," Stokes explained.

He emphasized the importance of a relaxed dressing room environment when chasing large totals. "The atmosphere in the dressing room is crucial. The lads have jobs to do out there, and maintaining a calm, relaxed vibe helps them focus, especially with the pressure of the situation."

Stokes concluded by highlighting the favorable scoring conditions at the ground: "The equation was simple: bat out the remaining overs and we'd win, given the quick scoring nature of the ground. Even without teams really pushing, the scoring rate has been over four an over, except perhaps for Rishabh Pant. It's just a very quick-scoring ground."