Stuart Broad hailed ‘complete cricketer’ Ben Duckett after his brilliant century steered England to a stunning five-wicket win over India in the first Test at Headingley.
Set an unlikely 371 to win the first of five Tests, Duckett hit 149 and found support from Zak Crawley, Joe Root, Jamie Smith and Ben Stokes as England won relatively comfortably.
Jasprit Bumrah, arguably the best bowler in the world, went wicket-less in the second innings after claiming another five-wicket haul in the first.
Duckett and Crawley set the platform for yet another superb England chase with an opening partnership worth 188.
India threatened to mount a fightback when Shardul Thakur took two wickets in two balls – removing Duckett and then Harry Brook for a first-ball duck – but Root, Smith and Stokes steadied the ship.
Stokes fell with 70 runs still needed and a new ball on its way but a composed fifty from Root and Smith’s powerful 44 took England to victory in the final session of day five.
Reacting to England’s victory, which puts them 1-0 up in the five-match Test series, Broad told Sky Sports: ‘There will be a lot of celebrations but England will have had belief all day, they would never have had any doubts.
‘It was a sensational run chase and Duckett was outstanding with his 149. It is incredible how this team keep doing this.
‘They needed 371 on a day-five pitch but did it calmly. There was a huge amount of skill on show.
‘England should probably have lost this game – India had so many chances to put it to bed but England scrapped and fought.’
On left-handed opening batter Duckett, England legend Broad added: ‘He is an outstanding player.
‘He’s so difficult to bowl at because he hits it in unusual areas. He’s a brilliant player of spin and latches onto anything short or wide.
‘He’s become a very, very complete cricketer. It was so calm and relaxed, I don’t know where spinners can bowl at him because he plays the sweep and reverse-sweep so well.
‘What a superb job he did today.’
Stokes’ decision to bowl first on the morning of one appeared to backfire as India racked up 471 with new captain Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rishabh Pant all scoring tons.
But even that represented a collapse as India were 430-3 before losing seven wickets for 41 runs – Stokes and Josh Tongue both finishing with four wickets.
England were just six runs short of parity after the first innings as Ollie Pope’s century and 99 from Brook got Brendon McCullum’s side back in the Test despite six scalps from Bumrah.
India looked to be batting the hosts out of the game as they made another 364 in the second innings, largely thanks to another century from Pant and a classy ton from opener KL Rahul.
But England record their second highest run-chase in Test cricket over 82 overs in the final innings to take a lead in the series and potentially knock India’s confidence ahead of the second match at Edgbaston, which starts next Wednesday.
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Stokes said: ‘What a mint Test match. To get to day five and come home with the win is amazing and what a game to be a part of.’
India skipper Gill added: ‘We had our chances.
‘A few dropped catches and the lower order not contributing as much as we would like [cost us] but I am proud. Our young team is learning.
‘It just didn’t go our way in this match. We have to rectify [the batting collapses] in the upcoming matches.’
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