Stokes Credits Opening Duo for England's Stunning Chase Against India

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 grabbed headlines, Stokes emphasized the significance of Crawley's solid 65, noting how the pair created a disruptive and complementary dynamic at the top of the order.

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

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

He further elaborated on the duo's effectiveness: "Zak's contribution was immense. They complement each other perfectly – a left-hander and a right-hander, one tall, one not. This makes it incredibly difficult for bowlers to settle into a rhythm. When they both get going, it's a nightmare for the opposition. Duckett's 149 was fantastic, but Zak's 65 was equally vital. He assessed the situation brilliantly, recognizing that Duckett was accelerating and effectively put the pressure back on the bowlers. Their opening partnership has been consistently excellent over the past few years."

Duckett's dominance against Ravindra Jadeja on the final day was a highlight, especially his confident use of the reverse sweep. Stokes lauded him as one of the best players of spin globally, emphasizing his proficiency with that particular shot. "I spoke to him during the tea break, and he said he felt confident using the reverse sweep and is a fantastic player of spin, especially on challenging surfaces."

Interestingly, Stokes even sought advice from Duckett during his own innings, seeking insights on how to better tackle the spin. "I asked him for his perspective on how I could improve my approach. I was trying to decide whether to go forward or back and manipulate the leg side. I decided to have a clear strategy, and the reverse sweep was the way to go. The conditions were difficult, but I needed to stay confident and focused to put the pressure back on the fielders."

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

"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.

"The atmosphere in the dressing room is critical when chasing down totals. The players need to be relaxed and focused on their roles. Maintaining a calm and relaxed environment helps them perform under pressure. The strategy was simple: bat out the remaining overs, and we'd win the game because of the ground's quick scoring nature. The scoring rate has been high, and it's a very quick-scoring ground."