Ben Stokes Lauds Ben Duckett After England's Historic Test Victory Over India
England's Remarkable Win at Headingley
Leeds [UK], June 25: England's captain Ben Stokes expressed his admiration for Player of the Match Ben Duckett, who played a pivotal role in leading the team to a remarkable victory against India in the first Test at Headingley.
The atmosphere shifted as the cheers from Indian supporters were gradually replaced by the familiar tune of 'Sweet Caroline' from the English crowd, celebrating a memorable five-wicket win. On the final day, England successfully chased down a daunting target of 371 runs in just 82 overs, marking their second successful chase in Test history.
Headingley was filled with nostalgia, reminiscent of Stokes' incredible performance in 2019, where he secured an Ashes-saving century against Australia. This time, Jamie Smith sealed the match with a powerful shot, giving England a 1-0 lead in the series.
Stokes reflected on the match, stating, “We’ve created some great memories here over the years, and this is another to add to that list. It was an incredible Test match, going down to the last hour on day five and chasing a significant total. A special start to the series,” during an interview with Sky Sports Cricket.
Duckett's impressive innings of 149 runs off 170 balls was crucial, supported by Zak Crawley, who contributed 65 runs. Together, they formed a solid opening partnership of 188 runs, setting a strong foundation for the chase.
“Duckett was phenomenal. The pressure in the fourth innings is immense, and batting is challenging, especially in England. The partnership between Zak and Duckett was exceptional; they set us up brilliantly,” Stokes praised.
Stokes also noted the importance of Crawley's composure throughout the match, stating, “Those two complement each other perfectly. Duckett's big score was vital for our victory, but Crawley’s ability to remain calm was equally important.”
Initially, Stokes faced criticism for opting to bowl first after winning the toss. India capitalized on this decision, scoring a formidable 471 runs by day two, raising doubts about England's strategy. However, the final day saw England clinch a five-wicket victory.
“You can never predict the outcome before the first ball is bowled. You have to make decisions based on what you believe gives you the best chance of winning. Thankfully, Test cricket spans five days, allowing us to strategize effectively,” he explained.
Stokes elaborated on his decision, saying, “The pitch on day one had some grass and moisture, which led us to believe that bowling first would give us an early advantage.”
Despite India achieving five centuries, including impressive scores from Yashasvi Jaiswal (101), Shubman Gill (147), KL Rahul (137), and Rishabh Pant (134 and 118), England capitalized on missed opportunities to achieve their second-highest chase in Test cricket.
“Chasing down totals certainly boosts team confidence, but it doesn’t guarantee future success,” Stokes remarked. “The opposition played exceptionally well. This is international cricket, where both teams feature high-quality players. We bowled well in the first session, but India also performed admirably on day one,” he concluded.