England pulled off a historic triumph at Headingley this week, chasing down an astounding 371-run target to beat India by five wickets, a feat powered by Ben Duckett’s breathtaking 149 off 170 balls in the fourth innings.
Duckett’s classy yet ruthless knock anchored a mammoth 188-run opening stand with Zak Crawley (65), laying the foundations for what became England’s second-highest successful Test chase.
Though the lower-middle order saw a brief wobble, Joe Root (53*) and Jamie Smith (44*), who sealed the chase with a signature six, guided England home.
From an assured start against fiery Indian bowlers including Jasprit Bumrah, Duckett exhibited a blend of patience and flair. His sixth Test century came through intelligent strike rotation and calculated aggression, with the reverse sweep featured prominently, especially against Jadeja. The innings reflected Duckett’s evolved temperament, balancing Bazball bravado with disciplined shot-making.
His knock was historic on multiple fronts: it remains the highest individual score in a successful fourth-innings chase against India and propelled him to be named Player of the Match for spearheading one of England’s iconic Test victories.
Beyond records and plaudits, Duckett’s innings marked a defining moment in his career arc. Once criticized for inconsistency, he is now a seasoned, high-impact opener, firmly embedded in England’s Bazball blueprint. His rise, from his Test debut in 2016 to being lauded as one of the world’s top openers under this new aggressive approach, is culminating beautifully.
As England lead the series 1‑0, the Headingley heroics have reset the tone. With confidence sky‑high and Duckett leading the charge, the next Test at Edgbaston promises to be a showcase of evolved, attacking cricket.
.png)
