IND vs ENG: 'The way we knocked over ... ' — England captain Ben Stokes reveals reason behind Headingley win
Ben Stokes (Images credit: Sahil Malhotra/TimesofIndia.com)
NEW DELHI: England produced a brilliantly paced run chase to gun down a massive 371-run target and defeat India by five wickets in the series-opening Headingley Test on Tuesday — with 14 overs to spare.
The hosts pulled off the 10th highest successful run chase in Test history with clinical execution and unwavering confidence, even on a fifth-day pitch that initially seemed to favour India's bowlers, particularly in the morning and afternoon sessions.
A commanding 188-run opening stand between Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley laid the foundation, wiping out more than half of the required runs. The final flourish came in style, as Jamie Smith sealed the win with a towering knee-down six over long-on.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel.
SUBSCRIBE NOW!
Reflecting on the performance, England captain
Ben Stokes
credited his side's relentless intensity and the crucial role of the bowlers in cleaning up India's lower order.
"It was all about our attitude and commitment, day in and day out. That's what we focussed on. Both teams played quality cricket — a great way to start the series," Stokes said at the post-match press conference.
"It was a very good wicket for batting. The way we knocked over the Indian tail was a big reason why we were able to chase down this score," he added.
After a wicketless morning session, it was Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur who unexpectedly provided India with breakthroughs in the afternoon. When Ravindra Jadeja dismissed Stokes after tea with 69 runs still needed, the tension briefly returned.
However, Joe Root (53*) and Jamie Smith (44*) calmly guided England home, not allowing India even a glimmer of hope in the final stretch.
With the win, England take a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
The second Test will be played at Edgbaston in Birmingham, starting July 2.
"We're 1-0 up, but there are four more games. We'll celebrate and then quickly shift focus to Birmingham," Stokes said.
Greenstone Lobo predicts winner of IND vs ENG series | Who Has the Astrological Edge?
The chase began under overcast skies with England resuming on 21/0, still needing 350 runs — a daunting task by any measure. But England once again proved their chasing prowess under the guidance of coach Brendon 'Baz' McCullum, notching their 12th successful pursuit in 18 attempts during his tenure.
This wasn't the usual high-risk "Bazball" spectacle — it was a more measured and mature version of it. With a required run rate just under four per over, England managed the tempo smartly and stayed within that rate throughout.
The contest also etched itself into the history books as only the third Test ever where all four innings crossed the 350-run mark. India posted 471 and 364, while England responded with 465 and 373/5 — a thrilling five-day battle that entertained from start to finish.
For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the
India vs England Test match here
.
Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News18
17 minutes ago
- News18
On This Day In 1983: India's Cricket World Cup Legacy That Began On A Saturday
On This Day: June 25, 1983, marked India's first Cricket World Cup win, starting a legacy that continued with wins on April 2, 2011, and June 29, 2024 — three lucky Saturdays. On This Day In 1983: June 25, 1983, marks one of the greatest days in cricket history as India lifted the Prudential World Cup in England. It was on this day that Kapil Dev's men were crowned champions at Lord's with an unbelievable victory over heavy favourites West Indies that ushered in a new era for India and world cricket. Kapil inspired his troops to a remarkable triumph after they were given no chance by pundits and expert,s and changed the landscape for the sport in the country. After winning the coveted title in 1975 and 1979, the West Indies were ready to add a third World Cup trophy to their rich cabinet and flex their dominant muscles. Clive Lloyd's men started in trademark fashion, unleashing their mighty four-pronged pace battery. India had defeated the Calypso Kings during the group stage, but the pressure of a World Cup final took its toll as Kapil's men could only muster a score of 183. Opener Krishnamachari Srikkanth emerged as his team's top scorer for the first hal,f making 38, with senior pro Mohinder Amarnath (26) and the aggressive Sandeep Patil (27) being the only other players to enter twenties. Legendary right-arm quick Andy Roberts led the pack for the opposition with figures of 3 for 32 off his 12 overs. — ICC (@ICC) June 26, 2024 Set a target of just 184, the West Indies looked set to crush India's fairytale run. But in an inspired bowling display, India's steady but disciplined medium pacers turned the tables on Clive Lloyd's mighty juggernaut. A memorable catch running backwards by Kapil helped remove the dangerous Vivian Richards after he threatened to run away with the game with his 33 off 28 and proved to be the game-changer. Madan Lal (3/31), Balwinder Sandhu (2/32) and Mohinder Amarnath (3/12) provided critical blows and ran through the much-fancied opposition batting line-up, dismissing the West Indies for 148. THE SATURDAYS OF GLORY India's pathbreaking triumph gave Kapil a legacy-defining moment as he inspired a generation of players to take up the sport and to lift the World Cup for the country. It also started India's love affair with Saturdays in ICC tournaments. Saturday seems to be a lucky charm for Indian cricket when it comes to the marquee finals of global events. 28 years after Kapil lifted the coveted crown on the Lord's balcony, MS Dhoni finished off in style and unleashed nationwide celebrations with the 2011 World Cup win. It was another special Saturday for Indian cricket at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, as Dhoni led from the front and helped India ace the final against Sri Lanka after being set a target of 275. The Saturday charm worked its wonders yet again on June 29, 2024, when the Rohit Sharma-led Indian team defeated South Africa in the ICC T20 World Cup final and broke the country's longstanding jinx at major events. Despite Proteas needing 30 off 30 balls heading into the final half-hour of play, a special second spell from Jasprit Bumrah and a tremendous boundary catch from Suryakumar Yadav provided the turnaround before allrounder Hardik Pandya successfully defended 16 required off the last over. First Published: June 25, 2025, 07:10 IST
Time of India
18 minutes ago
- Time of India
IND vs ENG Test: Joe Root on cusp of smashing Sachin Tendulkar's record as England stun India at Headingley
England's Joe Root (AP Photo/Scott Heppell) Joe Root once again proved why he is England's modern batting titan with a calm, unbeaten knock that sealed a historic chase for the hosts in the Headingley Test. While Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley laid a rock-solid foundation with their 188-run opening stand, it was Root who ensured India never got a sniff once the game got tense post-tea. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Walking in during a tricky phase, Root's fluent 53 not out steered England home and also brought him tantalisingly close to a milestone that only a handful in cricket history have managed — and one that has Sachin Tendulkar 's name etched at the very top. Root now stands just a couple of fifties away from equalling Tendulkar's iconic Test record, underlining his unreal consistency in the longest format. Ben Stokes Press Conference: On India without Jasprit Bumrah, the collapses and more Most 50s in Test 68 - Sachin Tendulkar 66 - Joe Root* 66 - S Chanderpaul 63 - Rahul Dravid 63 - Allan Border 62 - Ricky Ponting 58 - Jacques Kallis 57 - Alastair Cook This Headingley win, England's second-highest successful chase, was a testament to the maturity of the 'Bazball' era: bold but measured when needed. Root's knock was the glue amid all the fireworks — showcasing poise and precision against India's best, including a fiery Jasprit Bumrah who toiled all day without reward. Quiz: Who's that IPL player? For Indian fans, it was heartbreak as the visitors squandered a commanding position. Shubman Gill's first Test as captain ended in a tough lesson about closing out games overseas, despite heroic centuries from KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant. Root, meanwhile, continues to rewrite records with every game. With four more home Tests against India this summer and the Ashes ahead, fans and pundits are watching with bated breath: will the Yorkshireman topple the Master Blaster's mark this year? For real-time updates, scores, and highlights, follow our live coverage of the India vs England Test match here . Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
Hindustan Times
2 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
'India's batting line-up is like a dobermann dog': Dinesh Karthik highlights viral description as England win
Shubman Gill-led India stumbled to a five-wicket loss in the first Test of the five-match series against England at Headingley, Leeds on Tuesday. The hosts chased down 371 owing to a 149-run knock by opening batter Ben Duckett. It is fair to say that India have only themselves to blame as twice in the contest, the lower-middle order let England come back. In the first innings, India lost their final seven wickets for 41 runs on the board, while in the second innings, the final six wickets fell for 31 runs. Here's what Dinesh Karthik had to say about India's batting lineup, considering Shubman Gill and co lost the Headingley Test.(AP) In both innings, India had the chance to shut the door on England, but a dismal lower-order performance helped England come back. In the end, this mistake proved costly as England ended up gaining a 1-0 lead in the five-match series. In the first innings, India looked set to reach the 550-600-run mark but a horrendous collapse resulted in Gill and co getting bowled out for 471. Similarly in the second innings, India would have planned to set a target of more than 420 to England, but a loss of wickets in a cluster resulted in the hosts chasing just 371. Much of the internet chatter has been about India's non-existent tail and how the lower order never scores runs when the team needs it the most. During Day 5 of the first Test, former India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik also addressed the viral description of India's batting, leaving Ian Ward and Michael Atherton in splits. Also Read: Shubman Gill minces no words after India fail to defend 371 vs England in his 1st Test as captain Speaking about the same on Sky Sports Cricket, Dinesh Karthik said, 'I just saw on Twitter with someone saying the Indian batting is like a dobermann dog.' 'The head is good, the middle portion is okay, but there is no tail at all,' he added. Jasprit Bumrah has a rare off day at the office Jasprit Bumrah, who returned with five wickets in the first innings, had a rare bad day at the office as he failed to take a single wicket in the second innings. Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur returned with two wickets each, while Ravindra Jadeja took one. After the loss, Shubman Gill was once again asked about Bumrah's role in the series. It has already been made clear that the speedster would just be playing three Tests in the series against England. Speaking about the same, Gill said. 'It's definitely more game by game, you know there's a good break after the Test match, so once we're close to the match we'll see,' said Gill. India and England will now square off in the second Test, beginning July 2 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
