England Captain Stokes Praises Opening Duo After Thrilling Test Win Over India

Ben Stokes has praised the exceptional 188-run opening stand between Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, acknowledging it as the cornerstone of England's successful pursuit of 371 against India at Headingley. While Duckett's remarkable 149 stole the headlines, Stokes emphasized Crawley's vital contribution of 65, highlighting their disruptive and complementary partnership at the top of the order.

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

"When chasing 370, a strong start is essential. Minimizing early wickets is crucial, and the way Zak and Ducky approached the game at the top of the order was particularly significant," Stokes commented.

He further elaborated on the dynamics of their partnership: "Zak's contribution was immense. They complement each other perfectly – a left-hander and a right-hander, one tall and one not. This makes it incredibly difficult for bowlers to settle in. When they both get going, finding a rhythm becomes a nightmare for the opposition. Ducky scored 149, but Zak's 65 was equally important. He managed the situation brilliantly, recognizing Ducky's dominance and applying pressure effectively. Their opening partnership has been outstanding over the past couple of years."

Duckett's dominance against Ravindra Jadeja, especially his audacious use of the reverse sweep from the rough, was a standout feature of the final day. Stokes hailed Duckett as one of the best players of spin in the world, praising his execution of that particular stroke. "I spoke to him during the tea or rain break," Stokes revealed. "He's one of the best in the world at reverse sweeping and a fantastic player of spin, especially on tricky surfaces."

Stokes even sought advice from Duckett during his own innings, seeking to refine his approach 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."

"I decided to go in with a clear plan to use the reverse sweep. Despite the challenging conditions, I remained clear and confident in my approach to put pressure on the close-in fielders."

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 their ability to maintain simplicity and a relaxed atmosphere is pivotal to these remarkable achievements.

"Me and Baz are a simple-minded pair when it comes to cricket. At its core, cricket is 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 crucial when chasing totals like that. The lads have a job to do, and maintaining a calm, relaxed vibe is essential for their mindset when they're out there facing the pressure of the situation."

"Our approach yesterday was straightforward: if we bat out the remaining overs, we will win, given how quickly runs can be scored at this ground. The scoring rate has consistently been over four an over, largely due to the nature of the ground."