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Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley Nearly Miss England's All-Time Test Record With Epic 188-Run Stand

Aashay Chopade

Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley (Source: AP Photos)Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley (Source: AP Photos)

England have taken a pole position in the first of the five-match Test series against India as openers, Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley notched up a 188-run opening stand. They are chasing a target of 371 and needed their openers to start well. The opening duo played out a tough phase of few overs with caution on Day 4 and now have capitalised on it with aggressive approach on the final day.

Duckett And Crawley Break Records En Route Memorable Opening Stand

It is the highest-ever opening partnership for England in Test cricket since 2001. Also, they were on the verge of breaking England's biggest opening partnership record in the fourth innings which belongs to the duo of Michael Atherton and Graham Gooch. They had a partnership of 203 runs against Australia back in 1991, while Duckett and Crawley have now taken the second position in that list.

Boycott and Brearley earlier held that spot with their 185-run stand against Pakistan in 1978. The great Geoffrey Boycott features twice in the top four, as he had a partnership of 161 runs with Edrich against Australia in 1971.

List Of England's Highest 4th Innings Opening Partnerships

  • 203 - Atherton & Gooch vs Australia, 1991
  • 188 - Crawley & Duckett vs India, 2025
  • 185 - Boycott & Brearley vs Pakistan, 1978
  • 161* - Boycott & Edrich vs Australia, 1971

List Of Highest 4th Innings Opening Stand vs India

  • 188 - Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett for England, Headingley, 2025, This Innings*
  • 142* - Allen Rae and Jeffrey Stollmeyer for West Indies, Port of Spain, 1953
  • 131 - Matthew Horne and Gary Stead for New Zealand, Ahmedabad, 1999

Nevertheless, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett have managed to put together the highest opening stand in the fourth innings against India and have paved the way for an incredible run-chase in Headingley. Ben Duckett was the aggressor in the partnership as he notched up his sixth hundred, while Zak Crawley displayed great patience for his 65 before losing his wicket to Prasidh Krishna.