Stokes Credits England Openers for Setting Up Thrilling Victory Over India

Ben Stokes, the England captain, has lauded the opening partnership of Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley for their crucial role in England's successful run chase against India at Headingley. The duo's 188-run stand set the stage for England to overhaul a target of 371.

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

While Duckett's magnificent 149 grabbed headlines, Stokes emphasized the importance of Crawley's contribution of 65 runs. He highlighted how Crawley's aggressive and complementary approach at the top of the order significantly disrupted the Indian bowlers.

"Chasing 370, you always need a good start," Stokes commented. "Minimizing early wicket losses is crucial, and the way Zak and Duckett approached the game was massive for us."

A Complementary Partnership

Stokes further elaborated on the dynamics of the Duckett-Crawley partnership: "They complement each other so well. The left-hand, right-hand combination, plus the contrasting sizes, make it incredibly difficult for bowlers to settle. When they both get going, it's a nightmare for the opposition to find any rhythm. Duckett scored 149, but Crawley's 65 was equally vital. He managed the situation perfectly, recognizing that Duckett was taking the initiative and ensuring that the pressure remained on the bowlers. This opening partnership has consistently delivered for us over the past few years."

Duckett's Mastery Against Spin

Duckett's dominance against Ravindra Jadeja on the final day was particularly noteworthy, especially his confident use of the reverse sweep against the spin. Stokes regards Duckett as one of the best players of spin in the world, particularly praising his execution of the reverse sweep.

"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 is a fantastic player of spin, especially on difficult surfaces."

Stokes even sought advice from Duckett during his own innings, seeking ways to improve his approach against spin. "I asked him for his perspective on how I could improve my chances. I felt like I was either getting forward or back, trying to manipulate the ball on the leg side."

"I went in with a clear plan to use the reverse sweep. It's a challenging tactic, but I wanted to be confident and clear in my approach to put the close-in fielders off."

England's Calm Approach to Chases

This victory marked the sixth time under Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum that England has successfully chased a target of 250 or more in the fourth innings. Stokes attributes this success to their ability to maintain simplicity and a relaxed atmosphere.

"We're a very simple-minded pair, Baz and I, when it comes to cricket," Stokes explained. "Everyone knows the aim: score one more run than the opposition. We try to keep things simple and maintain a calm environment."

"The atmosphere in the dressing room is crucial when chasing big totals. The players have a job to do, and maintaining a calm, relaxed vibe helps them focus and perform under pressure."

"The plan was simple: bat out the remaining overs, and we would win, given how quickly runs are scored at this ground. The scoring rate has been over four an over, even without any team pushing hard, except perhaps Rishabh Pant. It's just a very quick-scoring ground."