England Captain Stokes Praises Openers' Key Role in Thrilling Headingley Chase Against India

Ben Stokes has praised the opening partnership of Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, highlighting their crucial contribution to England's successful chase of 371 against India in the Headingley Test. The dynamic opening stand of 188 runs set the tone for England's victory.

While Duckett's impressive 149 grabbed headlines, Stokes emphasized the importance of Crawley's 65, noting how his aggressive and complementary approach at the top of the order was equally vital.

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

"When chasing 370, a good start is essential. Minimizing early wickets is crucial, and the way Duckett and Crawley approached it was huge," Stokes stated.

He further elaborated on the pair's effectiveness: "Zak's innings was immense. Their styles complement each other perfectly. The left-hand, right-hand combination, with one being a giant and the other not, makes it incredibly difficult for bowlers to settle. It's a nightmare for the opposition when they're both set. While Ducky scored 149, that 65 from Zak was equally important. He handled the situation expertly, recognizing when to release pressure." Stokes added, "That opening partnership has been outstanding for us over the past few years."

Stokes also singled out Duckett's dominance against Ravindra Jadeja, particularly his fearless deployment of the reverse sweep. He hailed Duckett as one of the best players of spin in the world, particularly praising his use of the reverse sweep. "I spoke to him during a break," Stokes revealed, "He's among the best at reverse sweeping and an exceptional player of spin, especially on challenging surfaces."

Interestingly, 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 going too far forward or back, trying to manipulate the ball on the leg side."

"I decided to go in with a clear plan to use the reverse sweep. It was a difficult situation, but I needed to be clear and confident in what I was doing to try and displace those close-in fielders."

This victory marked the sixth time under the leadership of Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum that England has successfully chased down a target of 250 or more in the fourth innings. Stokes attributes this success to their simple and relaxed approach.

"We maintain a simple mindset when it comes to cricket. Ultimately, it's about scoring one more run than the opposition. We try to keep things as simple and calm as possible," Stokes explained.

He emphasized the importance of the atmosphere in the dressing room during such chases. "The atmosphere in the dressing room is vital. The lads have jobs to do out there, and maintaining a calm, relaxed vibe helps them to approach the situation with the right mindset."

"Yesterday, the equation was simple: bat out the remaining overs, and we would win, given how quickly runs are scored at this ground. The scoring rate is typically high, and it's a very quick-scoring ground."