Stokes Credits England Openers for Setting Up Record Chase Against India

Ben Stokes has praised the opening partnership of Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, recognizing their pivotal role in England's remarkable run chase against India at Headingley. The pair's 188-run stand set the stage for England to successfully pursue a target of 371 in the fourth innings.

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

While Duckett's impressive 149 earned him much of the attention, Stokes emphasized the significance of Crawley's contribution of 65, highlighting his disruptive and complementary presence at the top of the order.

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

He further added: "Zak's innings was incredibly important. Their contrasting styles work brilliantly together. The left-hand, right-hand combination, combined with their differing statures, makes it difficult for bowlers to settle. When they both get going, it's a nightmare for the opposition to find any rhythm. While Duckett scored 149, Zak's 65 was vital. He managed the situation expertly, recognizing when to apply pressure. Their opening partnership has been consistently excellent 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 audacious use of the reverse sweep. Stokes considers him among the best players of spin in the world, particularly due to his proficiency with that shot.

"I spoke to him during the tea or rain break," Stokes revealed. "He's one of the best reverse sweepers in the world and an exceptional player of spin, especially on challenging surfaces."

Stokes even sought advice from Duckett during his own innings, seeking to improve his approach against spin. "I asked him for his thoughts on how I could give myself a better chance. I felt like I was either getting forward or back, trying to manipulate the leg side."

He continued, "I decided to go in with a clear plan, incorporating reverse sweeps. While the conditions were difficult, I focused on being clear and confident in my approach to put pressure back on the fielders."

England's Relaxed 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 a simple and relaxed atmosphere.

"Baz [Brendon McCullum] and I share a very simple mindset 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 elaborated: "The atmosphere in the dressing room is crucial when chasing totals like that. The lads need to go out there and perform their roles. Maintaining a calm and relaxed environment is essential for fostering the right mindset, especially given the pressures of the situation."

Stokes concluded: "The plan was straightforward: if we batted out the remaining overs, we would win, given the scoring rate of the ground. The scoring rate has been high, and it's a very quick-scoring ground."