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Zak Crawley-Ben Duckett First Opening Pair After Cook-Strauss To Register 'THIS' Record

Arnav Chopra

Crawley-Duckett and Cook-Strauss (Source: @TheCricketerMag/X.com)Crawley-Duckett and Cook-Strauss (Source: @TheCricketerMag/X.com)

After suffering for long due to the ill-fate of their openers, England have finally managed to forge a solid opening pair. For the first time after the retirements of Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss, the new pair of Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley have emerged as one of the finest for England ever.

Zak Crawley And Ben Duckett Too Good As England Openers

England have long struggled after the retirements of Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss, especially in the opening department, where the openers have failed considerably, as none of them have managed to cement their place by putting some consistent runs on the board.

The story has long reverted back after both the former openers Cook and Strauss, who last played together in 2012 retired, and since then no one has managed to get as many runs and confirm their place in the side.

Due to this instability at the top, England have long suffered, as they couldn't get off to a decent start, putting extra pressure on their middle order, time after time, and foratleast 10 years since then.

However, that has certainly changed now with the new duo of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett doing the job in the English conditions. First batting in the year 2022, Crawley and Duckett have since then played 48 innings together so far, put on 2,043 runs after their name, scoring at an average of 44.41, where they have managed four century stands and 12 fifty-plus partnerships together.

So, this is the first time that a duo after Cook and Strauss have managed to get 2,000 runs and a 40+ average after their name. Previously, both Cook and Strauss, who played from the year 2006 to 2012, batted together in 117 innings, scoring 4,711 runs at an average of 40.96 with 12 century and 18 half-century stands.

Crawley And Duckett Punish India In A Dominating First Session

Chasing 371 for victory on the final day of the first Test at Headingly, the Crawley and Duckett duo started off brilliantly, putting an unbeaten 117 runs on the board by the end of 30 overs as they complete the first session and remaine wicketless with Crawley's 42* and Duckett's 64*, punishing India left, right, and center.

The Indian bowlers couldn't get a breakthrough as England completely dominated the first session and require just 254 more for victory in the remaining two sessions in the first Test on day 5.