Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett have created history. Photo: AP
England openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett once again provided a strong start to their team and added 92 runs for the first wicket. Duckett scored a quick 43 off 38 balls before getting dismissed off Akash Deep. Crawley smashed 64 off 57 balls. Courtesy of their knocks, England breached the 100-run mark quickly and they are in a dominant position against India. Both Crawley and Duckett have batted freely in the series. Duckett has scored 408 runs with a strike rate of 86.07. Crawley has 276 runs with a strike rate of 64.03.
The duo created history during their heroics on the second day of the fifth Test against India and broke a long-standing record held by Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss. Cook and Strauss opened for England for many years. They are among England’s most successful opening pairs.
Crawley and Duckett pipped Cook and Strauss to become the opening pair with the most Test runs against India. They have 984 runs in 18 innings. Cook and Strauss scored 933 runs in 20 innings.
With 652 runs, Michael Atherton and Graham Gooch share the third spot. They batted together six times in Tests against India. Crawley and Duckett could become the first English opening pair to score more than 1000 runs against India in the next series.
Talking of the ongoing series, England are 2-1 ahead after four Test matches. The Ben Stokes-led side kicked off the series with a win. India bounced back strongly and won the second Test.
England defeated India at Lord’s to go 2-1 ahead. The Three Lions were ahead of India in the fourth Test after the fourth day’s play but they failed to get them all out on the final day. India only lost four wickets in their second innings and forced a draw. England bowled out India for 224 in their first innings of the fifth Test.