England Captain Stokes Hails Opening Partnership After Stunning Chase Against India

Ben Stokes has showered praise on the opening pair of Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley following England's remarkable run chase against India at Headingley. Their 188-run partnership set the stage for a successful pursuit of 371 in the fourth innings. While Duckett's magnificent 149 grabbed headlines, Stokes emphasized the significance of Crawley's contribution of 65, which provided a crucial and complementary dynamic at the top of the order.

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

"When you're chasing 370, a strong start is essential. Minimizing early wicket losses is crucial, and the way Duckett and Crawley approached the game was vital, especially at the top of the order," Stokes commented.

He further added, "Zak's innings was equally important. Their contrasting styles – left-hand, right-hand, one tall, one not – make it 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 Zak's 65 was incredibly valuable. He understood the situation well, releasing the pressure by letting Duckett dominate. This opening partnership has been consistently excellent for us in recent years."

Duckett's dominance against Ravindra Jadeja on the final day was particularly noteworthy, especially his confident use of the reverse sweep. Stokes regards him as one of the best players of spin in the world, highlighting his expertise with that particular shot. "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 challenging surfaces."

Stokes even sought advice from Duckett mid-innings to refine his own strategy against spin. "I asked him for his perspective on how I could improve my chances. I felt like I was either going forward or back, trying to manipulate the leg side."

"I just went in with a clear game plan and the reverse sweep was part of that. It's a challenging condition, but again, it's about being clear and confident in what I needed to do to try and knock those close-in fielders off."

This victory marks the sixth time England, under Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum, have chased down a target of 250 or more in the fourth innings. Stokes believes their ability to maintain a simple and relaxed approach is key to these remarkable achievements.

"We're a very simple-minded pair, Baz and I, when it comes to cricket. Ultimately, it's 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 incredibly important when chasing down totals. The lads have a job to do, and maintaining a calm, relaxed environment is crucial for their mindset when they're out in the middle, facing the pressures of the situation."

"Yesterday, the equation was simple: if we batted out the remaining overs, we would win, given how quickly runs are scored at this ground. The scoring rate has consistently been over four an over, except perhaps when Rishabh Pant is batting. It's just a very, very quick scoring ground."