‘Duckett would’ve infuriated me as a bowler – he’s one of world’s best’

However, England’s 371-run victory over India in the first Test on the same ground is unmatched in terms of pure run chase.

Here, there are some unique things.

Stokes’ victory and the famous 1981 Ashes comeback victory, which were both inspired by Ian Botham and Bob Willis’ iconic performances, are the most memorable.

That day, Butcher batted like a god.

He told me that he has never played like it before when we had dinner with him this week. It was an innings once in a lifetime.

In contrast, Duckett simply batted like Duckett and recorded 149, which is the second-highest score by an England opener in the fourth innings.

Many of the other great fourth-innings centuries are defensive in nature because they attempt to save the game.

Duckett’s attack was flawlessly controlled despite his excellent control.

The 30-year-old makes the most of his shortness, his size, by adjusting bowlers’ lengths, and plays those cuts, pulls, and sweeps. Ravindra Jadeja’s reverse-sweep for six off was simply extraordinary.

When I bowled Duckett, I would have found him enraging. You assume as a bowler that he will eventually nick one behind, but somehow he doesn’t because he leaves the ball so rarely outside off the stump.

It’s not hard to dispute the fact that he is one of the best batters currently playing all different types of baseball.

He benefits from having a few more expansive shots in the shortest format, which makes him switch between formats more easily, as he does in a T20.

Given his difficult first Test debut, his success is made even more cheery.

After he looked out of his depth in those four Tests in India and Bangladesh in 2016, a number of people who I respect greatly advised me to keep an open mind about Duckett.

Although Duckett had a 15.71 on average, I was instructed to believe.

You would want to have him in your team because he is now one of the key players in England’s XI and has benefited from Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s new start in 2022.

Duckett never backs away from the fight, standing there with his chest puffed out, and never takes a backseat.

Zak Crawley deserves a lot of praise for this incredible victory, especially since he more than contributed to the opening stand of 188 with Duckett, which provided the platform for England to finish their second-highest Test run ever.

Because of how much control they displayed, I think their partnership is so highly regarded.

The refined version of England’s attacking strategy has been discussed a lot. It was in top condition here.

Although India’s attack lacks other than the exceptional Jasprit Bumrah, Crawley and Duckett batted with control rather than being reckless as they did in the terrible winter defeats of Rawalpindi and Hamilton.

Avoid the enormous pressure of leaving with such a target.

We have been yelling for England to display some common sense, which they did in a modern sense.

At no point did it seem like a wild assault despite the batsmen’s four or five runs per over. They tossed the ball around in an effort to get rid of the bad shots.

After scoring seven wickets in the match, Josh Tongue deserves praise. India should have buried England with a 600-run first-innings score from 430-3.

Given how under Stokes, they have struggled to do so under his leadership, and having the Tongue twice now should make their next choice easier, is a big plus for England.

Jofra Archer has been the subject of a lot of speculation, but I’m hoping that is all that is true now that England are taking on Edgbaston with a win.

There is no reason to rush Archer back after a first-class match, despite all the heartache, careful planning, and both sides’ patience.

You can bowl as many overs in the nets as you like and play as many T20s as you like, but you won’t be ready for Test cricket until you have bowled spell after spell and backed it up once more.

On Sunday, Sussex will play in the Sussex County Championship.

If England want to make a change, let Archer play in that and he will then be ready for the third Test at Lord’s.

One of their best performances in recent memory was at Headingley, and they deserve a lot of credit. Stop being so silly right now.