Stokes Credits England Openers for Record-Breaking Chase Against India

Ben Stokes has praised the remarkable 188-run opening stand between Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley, acknowledging their pivotal role in setting the stage for England's successful pursuit of a 371-run target in the Headingley Test against India.

While Duckett's impressive 149 stole the headlines, Stokes emphasized that Crawley's contribution of 65 was equally significant in establishing a disruptive and complementary presence at the top of the order.

England's openers set the foundation for a memorable victory. © Getty

"Chasing 370, you always want a good start," Stokes stated. "Minimizing early wicket losses is crucial, but the way Zak approached it with Duckett, dictating the game at the top, was particularly huge."

He further elaborated on the dynamics of the opening partnership: "The way Zak played was huge. They complement each other so well. Left hand, right hand, different statures – it's tough for bowlers to settle when they get going. Finding rhythm becomes a nightmare for the opposition. Duckett scored 149, but that 65 was vital. He read the situation perfectly, allowing Duckett to apply pressure. Their opening partnership has been consistently excellent for the past couple of years."

Duckett's dominance against Ravindra Jadeja on the final day was particularly noteworthy, especially his bold deployment of the reverse sweep. Stokes regards him as one of the best players of spin globally, particularly in his use of that shot. "Duckett is one of the best in the world at reverse sweeps and a fantastic player of spin, especially on tricky surfaces."

Stokes even sought advice from Duckett mid-innings to refine his own strategy against spin. "I spoke to him about what I could potentially do to give myself a better chance. I was trying to manipulate the leg side."

"Just going in with a clear game and reverse sweeps was something I went out there with. It's a difficult condition, but again, just going back to being clear and confident in what I needed to do to try and knock those men [close-in fielders] off."

This chase marked the sixth instance under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum where England successfully chased a target of 250 or more in the fourth innings. Stokes attributes this success to their simplified, relaxed approach.

"We're a simple-minded pair, Baz and I, when it comes to cricket," Stokes explained. "Cricket is about scoring one more run than the opposition. We try to keep everything simple and calm."

He also highlighted the importance of the dressing room environment during such chases. "How you are in the dressing room is important. The lads have got jobs to do. Maintaining a calm, relaxed vibe helps their mindset when facing pressure in the middle."

Stokes concluded, "It was pretty simple yesterday. If we batted the remaining overs, we'd win because of the ground's scoring speed. It's a very quick-scoring ground."