Duckett and Crawley Hold Firm as England Pursue Big Target vs India

England started Day 5 of the Test nicely with openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett remaining unbeaten till lunch. They made a good 117-run opening partnership and lost no wicket in the morning session at all. Duckett was on 64 and Crawley on 42. The weather was cloudy and windy which typically benefits fast bowlers but Indian bowlers were not able to get any swing. They pitched short and attempted various plans but the English openers were tight and did not concede their wickets. England have made 96 runs in the session and still require another 254 runs to win with all 10 wickets intact.

England managed to score just 42 runs in the first hour of play which is extremely slow for a team that is known for their attacking approach called Bazball. This slow beginning occurred due to Indian pacers Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna bowling extremely tight and accurate spells. They troubled the batters but the pitch did not assist. There was no swing in the air which made it more difficult to get a breakthrough. Ben Duckett began the day with a classy cover-driven shot but thereafter both he and Crawley had to be patient because India bowled well. Siraj bowled a couple of excellent deliveries and appealed emphatically for LBW against Crawley but the umpire was not sure. At the other end Prasidh Krishna played on bowling just outside off stump and kept teasing Duckett to play the drive. He even received a bit of a lucky edge for four but did not fall for the trap and went on batting very cautiously. With the passage of time the openers gained confidence and scored their 50-run partnership when the drinks break arrived.

England played a bit more freely after the interval. Duckett, still struggling with balls bowled outside off stump particularly by Prasidh Krishna, used to advantage any short stuff and pushed it to the boundary. He achieved his half-century through some elegance pull shots. Crawley too came in to the party with a beautiful cover drive off Shardul Thakur, who was unable to maintain control in his short four-over spell. The Indian team during this period seemed restless and it also became apparent that young captain Shubman Gill was having trouble re-adjusting the field in a jiffy following every attacking stroke by the English openers. The English duo reached 100-run mark with a sharp drive through point by Crawley. This was the first time that a partnership of this magnitude had been constructed in the fourth innings at Headingley since 1984 which indicated how rare and crucial this stand was.

The Indian bowlers attempted to switch the old ball as it had weakened and was not causing much harm. They requested a change twice but the umpires only permitted it after 27 overs. This frustrated the Indian team as they wanted to end the partnership badly. Later in the session Ravindra Jadeja and Jasprit Bumrah bowled more in control. Bumrah even had a difficult chance to grab a return catch off Crawley but failed to clutch it. It was the type of opportunity India desperately required but fortune didn't smile at them.

There was a brief moment of drama close to the end of the session. Just as Mohammed Siraj was poised to bowl the last ball of the session Zak Crawley pulled back from the crease and withheld the delivery. This act allowed England to waste time and prevent having to endure a further over from Jasprit Bumrah before lunch. It was regarded by some as an astute but sporting ploy that benefited England.

Ben Duckett achieved a rare milestone by becoming only the second English opener in the last 30 years to score over fifty runs in both innings of a Test at Headingley. This performance under pressure in the fourth innings while chasing a big total showed his maturity and strong technique. Zak Crawley also played a valuable knock staying calm and choosing his shots wisely. The manner in which they played together irked the Indian bowlers who were otherwise quite well-disciplined in the session.

The overall match situation is delicately poised. England had previously scored 465 in the first innings and India had responded with 471 in the first innings and 364 in the second. KL Rahul made a good 137 and Rishabh Pant contributed 118 in India's second innings that provided India with a massive score to defend. England are now 254 runs short of victory with all wickets intact. With the pitch still not providing much assistance to the bowlers and the ball not doing much in the air the match can go either way. If England keep batting as they did in the morning they have a very good chance to achieve a record chase.

India, however, will have to do something special with the ball during the next sessions. Jasprit Bumrah is their best bet with his pace and talent. Ravindra Jadeja can also prove to be very important as the pitch deteriorates and begins to help spin. Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna appeared better than they did during the first innings which gives India a little confidence but they have to grab wickets soon or else the game will slip out of their hands.

The key words for this report are Duckett Crawley England vs India Headingley Test Day 5 Ben Duckett half-century Zak Crawley unbeaten stand India bowling unit no wickets session. With things going as they are, this final day potentially could still hold a sensational climax to what has already been a captivating Test match.