Stokes Praises England Openers' Heroics in Thrilling Chase Against India

Ben Stokes, the England captain, has lauded the opening partnership of Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley for their pivotal role in England's remarkable run chase against India at Headingley. The duo's impressive 188-run stand set the stage for England to successfully chase down a target of 371 in the fourth innings.

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

While Duckett's magnificent 149 earned him widespread acclaim, Stokes emphasized the significance of Crawley's contribution of 65 runs. He highlighted Crawley's ability to create a disruptive and complementary presence alongside Duckett at the top of the order.

Stokes commented, "Chasing 370, you always aim for a solid start. Minimizing early wicket losses is crucial, and the manner in which Zak approached the game alongside Duckett was instrumental, particularly at the top of the order."

He further added, "The way Zak played was also huge. They complement each other exceptionally well. The left-hand, right-hand combination, coupled with their contrasting statures, makes it challenging for bowlers to settle into a rhythm when they both get going. It becomes a nightmare for the opposition when they are in for a long period. While Ducky scored 149, Zak's 65 was equally vital. He assessed the situation astutely, recognizing that Ducky was on a roll and effectively applied pressure back onto the opposition. Their opening partnership has been outstanding 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 from the rough. Stokes lauded him as one of the world's finest players of spin, particularly for his proficiency with that particular stroke.

"I spoke to him during the tea or rain break," Stokes revealed. "He is one of the best in the world at executing reverse sweeps and a fantastic player of spin, especially on challenging surfaces."

Stokes even sought Duckett's advice during his own innings, seeking insights on how to improve his approach against spin. "I had a brief conversation with him about potential strategies to enhance my chances. When you're out there, you often feel like you're either moving forward or backward, attempting to manipulate the ball on the leg side."

He continued, "Adopting a clear game plan and incorporating reverse sweeps was my strategy. While the conditions were difficult, maintaining clarity and confidence in my approach to unsettle the close-in fielders was crucial."

This victory marked the sixth instance under the leadership of Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum where 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.

"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 said.

"The atmosphere in the dressing room is incredibly important when chasing down totals like that. The lads have specific roles to fulfill out on the field, and maintaining a calm, relaxed vibe in the dressing room is crucial for fostering the right mindset when facing pressure in the middle."

Stokes concluded, "It was pretty simple yesterday. It was if we bat the overs that is left in this game, we will win this game just because of how quick this ground is at scoring. I don't know what I've read, but it's probably been over four an over [scoring rate] anyway without any team really doing anything... bar Rishabh [Pant]. It's just a very, very quick scoring ground."