by Ben Stokes celebrated another day of red letters in Headingley after the 149 of Ben Duckett inspired England in an improbable pursuit of 371 at Down India during the first Rothesay test.
Duckett followed Ian Botham in 1981 and Stokes himself in 2019 in Folklore Headingley with a fourth round of the Titanic to underlie a five-titles victory and a 1-0 lead in the five game series.
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The last visit to England also produced another finish biting nails, Chris Woakes and Mark Wood bringing the ashes of 2023 to life on the house of Stokes in pursuit of 251 with three counters to lose.
Ben Stokes was the winner of the Ashes of England in Headingley in 2019 (Mike Egerton / PA)
“We have been quite good in this field for a few years,” said Stokes. “We have good memories here and it’s one more to add.”
It was the second most successful prosecution of England ever, seven necks of the objective in which they won the same opponents in Edgbaston in 2022 at the start of the Stokes-Brendon McCullum era.
“I think we are only a very simple spirit pair, me and baz, with regard to cricket,” said Stokes.
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“Everyone knows what cricket is, it’s about scoring more races than opposition. When you remove all behind, that’s all. We are trying to keep everything we can.
“When you continue totals like that, how you are in the locker room is very important.”
Only Mark Butcher, with 173 in Headingley in 2001, scored more among the English in a fourth round victory than Duckett, who was abandoned on 97 but majestic by giving the tone to England on the last day.
A 188 stand with Zak Crawley, which made a 65 composed, provided ideal foundations while the openers withdrew the sting of the formidable Bowling attack from India to exceed 2,000 points in partnership.
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“Ducky has been incredible since his arrival in the team,” said Stokes. “He has shown that he can mark races almost all over the world in all the conditions he was confronted with.
“He is a quality player, a person so hard to play with the new ball. I love the way his natural game is to try to mark and put the quisors under pressure from the first ball.
“Ducky obtained the 149 but Zak was so much, so important too. They compliment each other so well. I am sure you could ask the opposition quantities why they are a nightmare when they are for a long time.”
Ben Stokes praised the importance of Zak Crawley’s partnership with Duckett (Danny Lawson / PA)
Jasprit Bumrah was without a counter and while India joined to leave England 253 for four when Duckett and Harry Brook came out of successive bullets, Joe Root’s 53 Not Out and Jamie Smith 44NO brought them home with 14 overtime still available.
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While India will lick their injuries and seek to come together in Edgbaston for the second test, starting next Wednesday, Stokes can feel justified after its decision to make a bowl during the draw is examined.
India accumulated 359 for three in glorious striking conditions after the first day and was at a stage 430 for three – there were also 333 for four in the second sleeves – but England retaliated twice.
“It’s a good work test that cricket is played over five days,” added Stokes. “You make a decision and you don’t know what will happen. The two teams were very lucky.”
Jasprit Bumrah was without a counter in the second rounds and will only play three tests in the series (Danny Lawson / PA)
India’s coach Gautam Gambhir has revealed that they will not turn away from their strategy to play Bumrah for only two other tests, despite the rest of the Bowling attack, without coherent cut.
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“We will not change the plans,” said Gambir. “Managing your workload is more important. Before coming to this tour, it has already been decided that he would play three tests, but let’s see how his body is going.
“We have not decided what two other test games he will play.
