England Captain Stokes Credits Openers' Explosive Start for Thrilling Victory Over India

Ben Stokes lauded the exceptional 188-run opening partnership between Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, acknowledging their pivotal role in setting the stage for England's remarkable fourth-innings chase of 371 against India at Headingley. While Duckett's magnificent 149 grabbed headlines, Stokes emphasized Crawley's crucial contribution of 65, highlighting how the duo's contrasting styles disrupted the Indian bowling attack.

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

"When you're chasing 370, a strong start is essential," Stokes commented. "Minimizing early wickets is crucial, and the way Ben and Zak approached it, dominating the top order, was incredibly significant."

Stokes further elaborated on the dynamics of the partnership: "Zak's contribution was massive. They complement each other perfectly – a left-hander and a right-hander, one tall, one not so much. This makes it incredibly difficult for bowlers to settle into a rhythm. Ask the opposition; it can be a nightmare when they're in for a long time. Ducky's 149 was brilliant, but Zak's 65 was equally vital. He managed the situation expertly, recognizing when to let Ducky take charge and when to apply pressure himself. Their opening partnership has been outstanding 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 praised Duckett as one of the best players of spin in the world, particularly for his execution of that shot. "I spoke to him during the tea break," Stokes revealed. "He's one of the best in the world at reverse sweeping and an exceptional player of spin, especially on challenging surfaces."

Stokes even sought Duckett's advice during his own innings, seeking ways to improve his approach against spin. "I asked him for his thoughts 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 and use the reverse sweep."

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 attributed their success to their ability to maintain a simple and relaxed approach.

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

He added, "The atmosphere in the dressing room is crucial when chasing totals like this. The lads need to go out there and do their jobs, and maintaining a calm, relaxed vibe helps them stay focused and handle the pressure."

Stokes concluded by highlighting the favorable batting conditions at the ground. "The equation was simple: if we batted out the remaining overs, we'd win. The ground is conducive to quick scoring. Even without any extraordinary efforts, the scoring rate has been over four an over. It's simply a very fast-scoring ground."