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England's Dominance in Fourth Test Against India in Manchester

In the ongoing fourth Test match in Manchester, England's openers Jack Crawley and Ben Duckett have showcased an impressive batting performance, setting records against India. Their partnership of 166 runs for the first wicket marks a significant achievement, breaking an eight-year streak where no team managed a 150+ opening partnership against India. This match highlights a shift in dominance as England's aggressive style, known as 'Bazball', takes center stage. Under Shubman Gill's captaincy, the Indian team faces challenges that previous captains did not encounter. Read on to explore the details of this thrilling match.
By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 25, 2025, 15:06 IST

England's Strong Performance in Manchester Test

The fourth Test match between India and England is currently underway in Manchester, showcasing England's aggressive batting style known as 'Bazball'. The English openers made a rapid start in their first innings, leaving Indian bowlers struggling to keep up. Jasprit Bumrah, Anshul Kamboj, Mohammed Siraj, and Shardul Thakur all faced challenges during this innings.

Jack Crawley, alongside Ben Duckett, put on a remarkable display against the Indian bowlers, maintaining a run rate of over five runs per over throughout most of their innings. Their impressive performance led to a record that had not been achieved against India in several years.


In Manchester, Duckett and Crawley formed a partnership of 166 runs for the first wicket. This marks the second instance in this series where English openers have managed a partnership exceeding 150 runs. Previously, during the Leeds Test, they had combined for 188 runs while chasing a target in the fourth innings.

From 2016 to 2024, no team had managed to establish a 150+ opening partnership against India. This eight-year streak was broken as England accomplished this feat twice within just four matches. Under Shubman Gill's captaincy, England has achieved what was not possible during the leadership of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma over the past eight years.