England's Stokes Credits Openers' Heroics in Thrilling Test Chase Against India

Ben Stokes, the captain of England, has praised the outstanding 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 grabbed headlines with his impressive 149, Stokes emphasized that Crawley's contribution of 65 was equally significant, providing a dynamic and complementary presence at the top of the order.

England's openers set the stage for victory. © Getty

"When you're chasing 370, a good start is essential. Minimizing early wicket losses is crucial, and the way he [Duckett] and Zak approached it, dominating at the top of the order, was particularly significant," Stokes stated.

Stokes further elaborated on the importance of Crawley's innings: "Zak's innings was massive. They complement each other brilliantly. The left-hand, right-hand combination, one tall, one not, makes it incredibly difficult for bowlers to settle. Finding a rhythm becomes a nightmare when they're both set. I'm sure the opposition would agree. While Ducky scored 149, that 65 from Zak was vital. He managed the situation expertly, recognizing when to let Ducky take charge and when to apply pressure himself. Their opening partnership has been consistently excellent over the past few years."

Duckett's dominance against Ravindra Jadeja on the final day was a key factor, particularly his audacious use of the reverse sweep. Stokes regards him as one of the world's best players of spin, especially due to his proficiency with that shot. "I spoke to him during the tea or rain break," Stokes revealed. "He's one of the best reverse sweepers globally and an exceptional player of spin, especially on difficult surfaces."

Stokes even sought Duckett's advice during his own innings, seeking ways to improve his approach against spin. "I just asked him what he thought I could do to give myself a better chance. I felt like I was either going forward or back, trying to manipulate the leg side."

"Adopting a clear game plan and using the reverse sweep was my approach. It was a challenging situation, but I remained clear and confident in what I needed to do to put the close-in fielders off."

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

"We're a very simple-minded pair, Baz [McCullum] and I, when it comes to cricket. It's about scoring one more run than the opposition. We strip everything back and keep it as simple and calm as possible," Stokes explained.

"The atmosphere in the dressing room is crucial when chasing totals like that. The lads need to go out there and do their jobs. Maintaining a calm, relaxed environment is vital for their mindset when they're out in the middle, facing the pressure of the situation."

"Yesterday, it was simple: if we bat the remaining overs, we win because this ground is conducive to quick scoring. The scoring rate has been over four an over, largely due to how quick this ground is."