England Captain Ben Stokes Credits Openers' Explosive Start in Thrilling Chase Against India

Ben Stokes has praised the remarkable 188-run opening partnership between Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, acknowledging their pivotal role in setting the stage for England's successful pursuit of a 371-run target against India at Headingley. While Duckett's impressive 149 earned him widespread acclaim, Stokes emphasized that Crawley's contribution of 65 was equally significant in establishing a dynamic and complementary 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 Duckett approached the game at the top of the order was particularly impactful," Stokes commented.

He further added, "Zak's innings was massive. Their styles complement each other exceptionally well. The left-hand, right-hand combination, along with their contrasting statures, makes it challenging for bowlers to find their rhythm when both are in form. I'm sure the opposition would agree that it can be a nightmare to bowl to them when they're set for a long innings. While Ducky scored 149, I believe Zak's 65 was equally vital. He assessed the situation effectively, recognizing that Ducky was scoring freely and managed to apply pressure back on the bowlers. Their opening partnership has been outstanding over the past few years."

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

Stokes even sought advice from Duckett during his own innings, seeking to refine his approach against spin. "I asked him for his perspective on how I could improve my chances. In that situation, you feel like you need to either go forward or back, trying to manipulate the ball on the leg side."

He continued, "I went in with a clear plan to use the reverse sweep. It was a challenging condition, but I remained clear and confident in my approach to try and put the close-in fielders off."

This victory marked the sixth occasion under the leadership of Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum where England successfully chased a target of 250 or more in the fourth innings. Stokes emphasized that their ability to maintain a simple and relaxed approach is key to these remarkable achievements.

"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 totals like that. The players have specific roles to perform, and maintaining a calm and relaxed environment is essential to their mindset when they're out in the middle facing pressure.

"The plan yesterday was simple: bat out the remaining overs, and we would win the game due to the ground's quick scoring nature. The scoring rate has been over four an over, largely due to Rishabh Pant's aggressive approach. It's simply a very quick-scoring ground."