Duckett leads England to classic defeat of India

Headingley, Day 5, Fifth Rothesay Test

India 471 (Gill 147, Pant 134, Jaiswal 101) &amp, 364 (Rahul 137, Pant 118, Tongue 3-72)

England 465 (Pope 106, Brook 99, Bumrah 5-83) &amp, 373-5 (Duckett 149, Crawley 65, Root 53*)

England won by five wickets to lead the five-match series 1-0.

England defeated India on the nerve-wracking final day of the first Test at Headingley with a target of 371 thanks to Ben Duckett’s astonishing 149.

One of England’s best innings was played by Duckett, who defeated the home team’s 378-run record-breaking opponent at Edgbaston three years ago.

In doing so, Duckett added his names to Headingley folklore’s list: Ian Botham in 1981, Mark Butcher in 2001, Shai Hope in 2017 and, perhaps most famously, Ben Stokes in 2019.

Duckett and Zak Crawley made a measured 65 for the first wicket, taking 188 for the first wicket. Duckett was given a 97 and Crawford was dropped.

England were strolling while Duckett was at the crease, but Shardul Thakur’s opener and Harry Brook were both dismissed in subsequent deliveries. England was still trailing 118 at the end of the fourth wicket. India possessed hope.

In England’s battle against the threatening clouds and exploding Indians, Joe Root and Stokes joined them. There were also 49 more priceless runs before Stokes’ success against left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja’s short-third man was sealed with a reverse sweep.

Jamie Smith arrived with the necessary 69 and the necessary calm. As the clock ticked down, the anticipation increased.

Too late, only 22 balls were required to get the second new ball. With only 14 overs left, England won the match, scoring at a rate of 4.55 overs.

What’s the deal with this terrain? Headingley once more delivered a test that sucked up and fluctuated throughout the course of the final day, one that will stick in your mind forever.

Overnight, England were up 11-0, with 350 runs adrift. The four outcomes were all possible. Supporters from both sides exchanged chants, fought the emotions, and fought the tension. The rain only intervened on two occasions, somehow.

By the end, England had completed yet another run chase, demonstrating the captain’s choice to field first despite the bleak first-day playing conditions.

They completed Donald Bradman’s Australia in 1948, beating only the 404 of them for second-highest chase on this ground. This was the 10th-highest successful fourth innings chase ever and Stokes’ Ashes heroics from six years ago.

After India’s first innings ended with 430-3 and their second innings with 333-4, the home side’s remarkable escape was also invincible. Only three other teams have scored more runs in a Test before losing, and two of those were also defeated by Stokes’ England. India totaled 835 runs in the encounter.

There is a compelling case that Duckett is currently the world’s best all-format batter. The second-highest score by an England batter in a successful chase after Butcher’s epic 173 to defeat Australia on this ground 24 years ago was unquestionably his best of his six Test scores.

He had to escape India’s seamers’ potent morning burst. Crawley, who had a speedy 111-ball half-century, was Duckett’s fastest Test match.

Duckett burst into life with reverse-sweep and reverse-sweep when left-arm spinner Jadeja joined the attack. One was even given six-over-extra cover.

It was challenging to get Crawley a low caught-and-bowled to Bumrah. Yashasvi Jaiswal should have removed Duke at deep square leg from Mohammed Siraj. Jaiswal gave up the third chance in the contest.

Duckett jumped out of joy when he surpassed three figures, but trouble soon broke out. Prasidh Krishna, who bowled Ollie Pope with a nip-backer, was the only one who could not get a kick. When Crockett punched Thakur to cover, Brook was accidentally caught down the leg side when he accidentally crossed his first ball.

Stokes and Root both became concerned by the second rain delay as Jadeja began to land the ball in the rough. The captains of the past and present tapped in while maintaining good running and a positive score. Another shower was resisted by the umpires. The final whirl of Bumrah was over.

Stokes was actually shaky. Jadeja’s demise was unavoidable. Root, who used all of his tools and home-ground knowledge, had a quiet support from Smith.

How does India recover from this? Only one team in Test history has lost more than 430 runs in the first innings and lost three more.

The visitors were utterly wasteful. In their first innings, India took seven wickets for 41 runs, and in their second, they took six for 31. They also lost six catches overall.

The best bowler in the world went wicketless, but only the rest of the attack was able to provide backup for Bumrah on the final day. When the second new ball arrived, he was out of the game.

Bumrah will only likely play three games in the series, according to the tourists. He will undoubtedly benefit from the longer break between matches to prepare for the second Test.

In his opinion, “Test cricket is played over five days,” he said regarding his decision to bowl at the toss. You make a choice despite knowing what will happen. Both teams had great success.

In the crucial moments of this game, we did what we had to do. Not just the dressing room’s attitude, but also its ability to succeed here.

Ben Duckett, England’s opener and man of the match, said, “Unbelievable, what a test match. We had a lot of runs, and the weather was perfect. I have no words for it.