INDIA TOUR OF ENGLAND, 2025
Duckett became the second England opener in last 30 years to hit 50-plus scores in both innings of a Headingley Test. © Getty
Ben Duckett (64*) and Zak Crawley (42*) took England unscathed to Lunch on Day 5 at 117 for 0, in what was a terrific session for the hosts. Amidst blustery and overcast conditions, India were disciplined at the start of play and regained much needed control towards the end but still did not have a wicket to show for their efforts. Having scored 96 runs in the morning session, England now need 254 more to win with all 10 wickets intact.
The first hour of play saw the hosts score just 42 runs, in complete contrast to their signature attacking style of Bazball. This was mainly due to the Indian fast bowlers keeping their lines tight in their opening bursts. But frustratingly for the Indians, they were unable to find any swing to cast doubt in the English batters’ mind.
Ben Duckett began the day with a beautiful stroke through the covers for four but the two English openers were kept quiet for the majority of this period of play. After a poor first innings with the ball, both Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, looked to be in rhythm and were very disciplined. Siraj troubled Crawley and had two vehement appeals for LBW not given while Prasidh honed in on a fifth stump line to Ben Duckett – much more fuller in length, trying to entice him to drive. The left-hander scored a streaky boundary over the gully fielder off Prasidh but resisted falling into the trap that India had set for him. The left-hander finally hit one through covers before drinks as Crawley and Duckett brought up the 50-run stand.
England began to rapidly race through the gears after the break. Despite Duckett continuing to be troubled by Prasidh’s line outside off, whenever the lanky bowler shortened his length the left-hander pulled them away to the fence and soon brought up his 50. Crawley decided to get into the act with a cover drive, taking on Shardul Thakur who lacked control in his short spell of four overs. It also highlighted the lack of experience in Shubman Gill’s captaincy as he attempted to plug any gaps after a shot was played by the openers.
Crawley brought up the 100-run partnership – the first at Headingley in the fourth innings since 1984 – with a beautiful punch to the ropes through the point region. With the ball becoming softer India tried to change the ball twice which was denied by the umpires, much to their dismay, but it was finally changed after 27 overs. Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah brought some control at the stroke of Lunch. The speedster spilled a tough return catch of Crawley as a wicket continued to evade them.
Controversy emerged at the end with Crawley pulling out at the last second before Siraj could bowl, in a bid to use up time and delay another over from Bumrah, which worked successfully for the hosts.
Brief scores: England 465 & 117/0 (Ben Duckett 64*, Zak Crawley 42*) need 254 runs to win against India 471 & 364 (KL Rahul 137, Rishabh Pant 118; Brydon Carse 3/80, Josh Tongue 3/72).
© Cricbuzz
