England Captain Stokes Hails Openers Crawley and Duckett After Stunning Test Chase Against India

Ben Stokes has praised the opening partnership of Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, acknowledging their significant contribution to England's successful pursuit of 371 against India in the Headingley Test. Duckett's impressive 149 earned him many plaudits, but Stokes emphasized the importance of Crawley's 65.

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," Stokes stated. "The manner in which Duckett and Crawley approached the game at the top of the order was particularly significant."

Stokes further highlighted the complementary nature of their partnership: "Their contrasting styles make it difficult for bowlers to settle. The left-hand, right-hand combination, coupled with their differing statures, disrupts the opposition's rhythm. When they get going, it's a nightmare for bowlers. While Duckett scored 149, Crawley's 65 was equally vital. He managed the situation well, allowing Duckett to apply pressure. Their opening partnership has been outstanding for the past few years."

Duckett's aggressive approach against Ravindra Jadeja, especially his use of the reverse sweep, also drew praise. Stokes regards Duckett as one of the best players of spin in the world, particularly when using that shot. "I spoke to him during the tea break," Stokes revealed. "He's one of the best at reverse sweeping and a fantastic player of spin, especially on tricky surfaces."

In fact, Stokes even sought advice from Duckett during his own innings, seeking to refine his strategy against spin. "I asked him for his thoughts on how I could improve my chances. I was looking for options to either go forward or back and manipulate the leg side."

He added, "I went in with a clear game plan and focused on reverse sweeps. The conditions were challenging, but I remained clear and confident in what I needed to do to try and put the close-in fielders off."

This victory marked the sixth time England has successfully chased a target of 250 or more in the fourth innings under Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum. Stokes attributes their success to their ability to maintain a simple and relaxed approach.

"We are a simple-minded pair when it comes to cricket," Stokes explained. "Cricket is about scoring one more run than the opposition. We try to keep everything as simple and calm as possible."

Stokes concluded by emphasizing the importance of a relaxed dressing room environment during chases: "The atmosphere in the dressing room is crucial. The lads have jobs to do, and maintaining a calm, relaxed vibe is important for their mindset when they're out in the middle, facing pressure. Yesterday, the equation was simple: if we bat the remaining overs, we win, given the ground's quick scoring nature. The scoring rate has been over four an over anyway, with the exception of Rishabh Pant. It's a very quick-scoring ground."