England Captain Ben Stokes Praises Openers' Key Role in Thrilling India Test Chase

England's Captain Lauds Opening Pair After Thrilling Victory

Ben Stokes has praised the outstanding 188-run 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 earned him the spotlight, Stokes emphasized the significance of Crawley's contribution of 65, highlighting their complementary styles 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 commented.

He further added, "Zak's performance was also immense. They complement each other exceptionally well – a left-hander and a right-hander, one tall, one not. This makes it incredibly difficult for bowlers to find their rhythm when both are in form. I'm sure the opposition would agree it's a nightmare when they're set for a long innings. While Duckett scored 149, Zak's 65 was equally vital. He expertly managed the situation, understanding that Duckett was on a roll and effectively putting pressure back on the bowlers. Their opening partnership has been outstanding for us over the past few years."

Duckett's dominance against Ravindra Jadeja on the final day, particularly his confident use of the reverse sweep, was a major talking point. Stokes hailed him as one of the best players of spin in the world, emphasizing his proficiency with that particular shot. "I spoke to him during the tea or rain break," Stokes revealed. "He's among the best at reverse sweeping and an exceptional player of spin, especially on challenging surfaces."

Stokes even sought advice from Duckett during his own innings, seeking to refine his approach against spin. "I just had a quick chat with him about potential strategies to improve my chances. When you're out there, you feel like you're either moving forward or back, trying to manipulate the leg side."

"Adopting a clear game plan and utilizing the reverse sweep was my approach. Yes, the conditions were difficult, but I focused on maintaining clarity and confidence in my actions to disrupt the close-in 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 their success to their ability to maintain a simple and relaxed approach.

"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 explained.

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

"The equation was simple yesterday: if we bat out the remaining overs, we win, given the ground's high scoring rate. I believe the scoring rate has been over four an over without any team really pushing for it, except for Rishabh Pant. It's simply a very quick-scoring ground."