by England captain Ben Stokes praised the approach of his team after winning a remarkable five -counters against India during the first test in Headingley on Tuesday.
The superb 149 of Ben Duckett paved the way for the ultimately comfortable pursuit of England of 371 on the last day while the men of Stokes again highlighted an apparently rigid pursuit with the dynamic striker which was a characteristic of their game in the era “ Bazball ” of the Brendon McCullum coach.
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England has twice conceded totals greater than 350 in the first in this series of five games, but managed to inflict late collapse of 7-41 and 6-31 which proved to be expensive for India.
“There have been a lot of skills that helped win this test match, but also our attitude,” said Stokes. “Each session that we arrived with the attitude that we could explode this match.
It was the second highest level of the fourth tour of England, just behind the 378-3 that they also succeeded against India in Edgbaston shortly after Stokes and McCullum joined forces as captain and coach.
“I think we are only a very simple pair, me and Baz (McCullum), with regard to cricket,” said Stokes.
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“Everyone knows what cricket is, it’s about scoring more races than opposition.
– “Nightmare for the opposition” –
Duckett had a moment of good fortune when he was abandoned on Tuesday 97, but the opener of Nottinghamshire, aged 30, was otherwise in the form of an order.
With Zak Crawley (65), he laid the basics of victory against an attack in India featuring Jasprit Bumrah, the number one bowler player in the world, with a first exceptional designer of the first exception of 188.
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“Ducky has been incredible since his arrival in the team,” said Stokes. “He has shown that he can score races almost all over the world in all the conditions he has faced.”
He added: “Ducky obtained the 149 but Zak was so much, so important too. They complement each other so well. I am sure you could ask the opposition what they are a nightmare when they have been a long time.”
Stokes’ decision to move first after winning the print in apparently ideal striking conditions was criticized by former England captain Michael Vaughan
But Polyvalent Stokes Stokes added: “It is a good work test that cricket is played over five days. You make a decision and you don’t know what will happen.”
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India coach Gautam Gambhir said tourists would still be standing to play Bumrah – who, remarkably, went without a desk in the second rounds at Headingley – in only three of the five tests to preserve his physical condition after a back injury.
“We will not change the plans,” said Gambir after the attack on India rarely threatened on the last day of Leeds.
“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.”
There is now a break of more than a week before the start of the second test in Birmingham on July 2, the former drummer of India Gambir adding: “We did not decided what other test matches to which he will play.
“We absolutely have the bowlingal attack to take 20 counters. We choose the team on confidence, not in hope.”
JDG / PB
