Stokes Praises England Openers' Key Role in Record-Breaking Chase Against India

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

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

"When you're chasing 370, getting off to a good start is paramount," Stokes stated. "Minimizing early wickets is crucial, and the way he [Duckett] and Zak approached it, dominating the game from the outset, was invaluable."

Stokes further elaborated on the synergy between the two batsmen: "The way Zak played was also huge. They complement each other so well. Left hand, right hand, different statures... It's incredibly difficult for bowlers to find their rhythm when they're both in full flow. It can be a nightmare for the opposition when they're in for a long period. Duckett's 149 was fantastic, but that 65 from Zak was just as important. He assessed the situation brilliantly, recognizing Duckett's momentum and ensuring the pressure remained on the opposition. Their opening partnership has been consistently excellent for us over the past few years."

Duckett's dominance against Ravindra Jadeja on the final day was particularly noteworthy, especially his audacious use of the reverse sweep. Stokes hailed him as one of the best players of spin in the world, acknowledging the effectiveness of that particular stroke. "I spoke to him during the tea break," Stokes revealed. "He's one of the best in the world at reverse sweeping and a fantastic player of spin, especially on challenging surfaces."

Stokes even sought advice from Duckett mid-innings, seeking to refine his own strategy against spin. "I asked him for his perspective on how I could improve my chances. I felt like I was either going too far forward or too far back, trying to manipulate the ball on the leg side."

He added, "Adopting a clear game plan with reverse sweeps was my strategy. It was a difficult condition, but I focused on being clear and confident in my approach to put the pressure back on those close-in fielders."

This victory marked the sixth time under 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 a simple and relaxed approach.

"We're a very simple-minded pair, me and 'Baz', when it comes to cricket," Stokes explained. "Ultimately, it's about scoring one more run than the opposition. We try to keep everything as simple and calm as possible."

He continued, "The atmosphere in the dressing room is crucial when chasing down totals like that. The lads have a job to do, and maintaining a calm, relaxed vibe helps them focus on the task at hand, especially when facing pressure in the middle."

"The equation was simple: if we batted out the remaining overs, we would win, given the scoring rate of this ground. It's a very quick-scoring ground."