The Highlights of Ben Duckett’s Magical Innings
Ben Duckett’s Headingley – A Day to Remember for England Cricket
Date: June 24, 2025
Match: England vs India – 1st Test, Day 5
Venue: Headingley, Leeds
🏏 The Duckett Show: A Knock of Class, Courage & Character
On a day where history was begging to be written, Ben Duckett walked out to the middle with purpose—and walked back unbeaten, a national hero. With England chasing a mammoth 371 against a world-class Indian attack, Duckett didn’t just bat—he dared, he dominated, and he delivered.
In front of a packed Headingley crowd and millions watching around the world, Duckett played one of the finest fourth-innings knocks by an English opener in modern Test cricket.
🌟 The Highlights of Ben Duckett’s Magical Innings
1. Opening with Intent
From the first over, Duckett made it clear—defending wasn’t the plan, chasing was. Alongside Zak Crawley, he built a rock-solid foundation. The duo scored freely, rotating strike and dispatching bad deliveries with authority.
🧮 First milestone: Duckett brought up his half-century in just 72 balls—a perfect balance of patience and pressure.
2. Century Under Pressure
With England chasing history, the nerves in the dressing room could’ve been cut with a knife. But Duckett remained ice-cold. His century came off 121 balls, filled with classy cover drives, cheeky sweeps, and confident pulls.
💯 First ever fourth-innings century in his career
🏅 First English opener to score a 4th innings Test hundred since Alastair Cook (2010)
3. Breaking Records with Crawley
Their 188-run partnership is now etched in the record books:
- 🏆 Highest fourth-innings opening stand for England against India
- 👏 One of the most memorable stands ever at Headingley
⚡ Bazball Brilliance in Full Flow
Duckett’s innings was a textbook example of England’s Bazball philosophy—fearless, positive, and relentless. He didn’t let spinners settle, attacked India’s pace trio, and never looked flustered.
“It’s not just about survival, it’s about control and dominance,” Duckett said post-innings.
And dominate, he did.
📊 Duckett’s Day in Numbers
| Innings | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 62 | 94 | 9 | 0 | 65.9 |
| 2nd | 143* | 158 | 18 | 1 | 90.5 |
🧠 Did you know? Duckett is now the only England opener to score 50+ in both innings of a Headingley Test.
💬 Final Word
Ben Duckett’s unbeaten 143* today wasn’t just a great knock—it was a statement. A statement of England’s intent. A statement of Duckett’s evolution as a world-class batter. And a statement that Test cricket is alive, thrilling, and very much English right now.
As England closed in on one of their greatest chases, it was Duckett’s blade that carved the path.
🏁 What’s Next?
If England completes this chase, it will go down as one of the greatest Test victories in their history—and Ben Duckett will be at the heart of it all.
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