England Captain Stokes Hails Openers' Heroics in Thrilling Chase Against India Or Stokes Praises Duckett, Crawley for Blazing Start in England's Record Chase

Ben Stokes, the England captain, has praised the remarkable 188-run opening partnership between Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, acknowledging their pivotal role in setting the stage for England's successful pursuit of a 371-run target against India at Headingley. While Duckett's magnificent 149 grabbed headlines, Stokes emphasized Crawley's crucial contribution of 65, highlighting his disruptive and complementary presence at the top of the batting order.

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

"When chasing 370, a strong start is paramount. Minimizing early wicket losses is crucial, and the manner in which Zak Crawley approached the game alongside Ben Duckett was incredibly significant," Stokes commented.

He further added, "The way Zak played was huge. They complement each other exceptionally well. The left-hand, right-hand combination, with their contrasting statures, makes it challenging for bowlers to settle. Establishing rhythm becomes difficult when they're both in form. I'm sure the opposition would agree; it's a nightmare when they occupy the crease for extended periods. While Duckett scored 149, Crawley's 65 was equally vital. He managed the situation expertly, recognizing Duckett's momentum and effectively applying pressure back onto the bowlers. Their opening partnership has been consistently outstanding 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 against the spin. Stokes lauded Duckett as one of the best players of spin in the world, emphasizing his proficiency with 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, particularly on challenging surfaces."

Stokes even sought Duckett's advice mid-innings, aiming to refine his own strategy against spin. "I consulted him about potential approaches to improve my chances. In that situation, you feel like you're either going forward or back, trying to manipulate the ball on the leg side."

"Adopting a clear game plan with reverse sweeps was my approach. While the conditions were difficult, maintaining clarity and confidence in my actions was essential to try and disrupt the close-in fielders."

This victory marked the sixth instance under the leadership of Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum where England successfully chased a target of 250 or more in the fourth innings. Stokes attributes their success to their ability to maintain simplicity and composure.

"Me and Baz are a very simple-minded pair when it comes to cricket. Everyone knows the objective: scoring one more run than the opposition. Stripping it back to basics helps us maintain a calm and relaxed atmosphere," Stokes explained.

"The atmosphere in the dressing room during chases is incredibly important. The lads have roles to fulfill, and maintaining a calm, relaxed vibe is crucial for their mindset when they're out in the middle, facing the pressures of the situation."

"The equation was simple: if we batted out the remaining overs, we would win, given the ground's propensity for quick scoring. The scoring rate has consistently been over four an over, largely due to Rishabh Pant. It's simply a very quick-scoring ground."