England Captain Stokes Hails Key Opening Stand in Thrilling Chase Against India

Ben Stokes, the England captain, has showered praise on the opening batsmen, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, for their pivotal 188-run partnership. This stand set the stage for England's remarkable fourth-innings chase of 371 against India at Headingley. While Duckett's magnificent 149 grabbed headlines, Stokes emphasized that Crawley's contribution of 65 was equally significant, providing a disruptive and complementary presence at the top of the order.

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

"When chasing 370, a strong start is essential. Minimizing early wickets is crucial, and the way Zak and Ducky played at the top of the order was immense," Stokes remarked.

He further elaborated on the dynamic between the two batsmen: "Zak's innings was huge. They complement each other incredibly well. Left hand, right hand, different statures – it's challenging for bowlers to settle when they both get going. Finding rhythm becomes difficult, as the opposition can attest. It can be a nightmare when they're in for a long period. Ducky got the 149, but Zak's 65 was equally vital. He managed the situation expertly, recognizing Ducky's momentum and applying pressure back on the bowlers. Their opening partnership has been consistently excellent for us over the past couple of years."

Duckett's dominance against Ravindra Jadeja on the final day was particularly noteworthy, especially his audacious use of the reverse sweep. Stokes lauded him as one of the best players of spin in the world, particularly highlighting his proficiency with that particular stroke. "I spoke to him during the tea or rain break," Stokes shared. "He's one of the best in the world at reverse sweeping and is a fantastic 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 asked him what he thought I could do to improve my chances. I felt like I was either getting forward or back, trying to manipulate the leg side."

"I decided to go in with a clear game plan and use the reverse sweep. It's a difficult condition, but I just wanted to be clear and confident in what I needed to do to try and move those 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 simplicity and a relaxed atmosphere.

"We are a very simple-minded pair, Baz and I, when it comes to cricket. At its core, cricket is about scoring 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 down totals. The lads have jobs to do, and maintaining a calm, relaxed vibe is vital for their mindset when they're out there in the middle, facing the pressures of the situation."

"The plan yesterday was simple: bat out the remaining overs, and we would win, given the scoring rate of this ground. It's a very quick-scoring ground."