ENG Vs IND: Fans React As Ben Duckett Slams 4th Innings Century, England Unleash Bazball At Headingley

In the long and storied history of Test cricket at Headingley, few innings have sparkled with the audacity and brilliance of Ben Duckett’s breathtaking century on Day 5 of the first Test between England and India. Chasing a daunting 371 for victory, Duckett turned what many anticipated as a tense, rain-affected grind into a spectacle of strokeplay, rewriting records and redefining what it means to open in the fourth innings of a Test.

As England launched into their fourth-innings chase under overcast skies and looming rain delays, the world expected resilience. What they got instead was relentless aggression, precision, and poise—the very essence of ‘Bazball’, brought to life by Duckett’s bat.

Duckett the Dominator: A Century for the Ages

Ben Duckett’s unbeaten 124 off just 128 balls wasn’t merely a hundred. It was a statement.

A statement that England’s aggressive brand of Test cricket is no longer an experiment—it is a full-fledged, evolving philosophy that thrives even under fourth-innings pressure.

From the first over, Duckett signaled his intent. He drove crisply through the covers, pulled with command, and deftly worked spinners with reverse sweeps that looked more like flicks of a magician’s wrist. There was no waiting for the bad ball. Everything—even good length deliveries from Jasprit Bumrah or tight off-spin from Ravindra Jadeja—was met with positive intent.

He reached his century in 121 balls, a blistering pace for a fourth-innings knock against a world-class Indian attack, with 14 boundaries—each one seeming to affirm that fear had no place in his vocabulary.

Breaking New Ground at Headingley

In scoring this ton, Duckett achieved a feat no English opener had managed in over 120 years of Tests at Headingley: a fourth-innings century.

Only Australia’s Arthur Morris, the legendary left-hander, had done it before—back in 1948, during the famous “Invincibles” tour led by Don Bradman. Duckett now joins that elite company, becoming just the second opener in Test history to score a fourth-innings century at this iconic venue.

Moreover, he became only the sixth England batter to score a fourth-innings century while chasing 350 or more—joining an illustrious group that includes Kevin Pietersen and Graham Gooch.

Partnership Power: Duckett and Crawley Lay the Foundation

While Duckett stole the headlines, Zak Crawley deserves immense credit for the partnership that neutralized India’s bowling threat. The two openers put on an unbroken 181-run stand—England’s highest for the first wicket in the fourth innings of a Test since 1952.

Crawley played the perfect foil—rotating strike, punishing width, and taking pressure off Duckett with his own elegant strokeplay. The duo scored at 4.43 runs per over, putting the Indian bowlers perpetually on the back foot.

It was Test batting reimagined—an assertive, pressure-reversing brand of cricket that left the opposition scrambling.

Weather Watch: Rain Threatens, But Duckett Keeps the Heat On

The most formidable threat to England’s chase wasn’t Jasprit Bumrah or Ravindra Jadeja. It was the Leeds rain.

With showers predicted throughout the day, England had to not only score—but do so at a pace that gave them time to win, regardless of interruptions. Duckett understood the assignment.

Even when light drizzle forced mini-breaks in play, Duckett didn’t lose rhythm. Each return to the crease saw him resume his boundary-hitting with clinical precision. It was as if the rain spurred him on.

By the time the second session was truncated due to heavier showers, Duckett and Crawley had taken England to 181 without loss, with the required run rate now well within reach—and more importantly, with India rattled.

Living on the Edge: Duckett Survives, Then Thrives

Every great innings has its slice of fortune, and Duckett’s Headingley gem was no exception.

On 97, attempting a sweep off Jadeja, he skied the ball to deep backward square leg—a regulation catch by modern standards. But Yashasvi Jaiswal, who had dropped Duckett once in the first innings as well, failed to hold on. The crowd gasped, then cheered as Duckett breathed new life into his innings.

One ball later, Duckett reverse-swept Jadeja for four—bringing up his hundred in the most Duckett-esque way possible: fearless, inventive, and crowd-pleasing.

It was redemption and reward in a single stroke.

Bazball Embodied: Duckett’s Innings as a Blueprint

What Duckett produced wasn’t just an innings—it was a template. For England’s team management, this knock stands as a glowing example of how the Bazball philosophy can thrive even in high-stakes fourth-innings chases.

Critics have often argued that aggression in the fourth innings is a gamble too risky. Duckett, however, batted with a clarity of purpose and trust in execution that made his approach seem not reckless—but revolutionary.

Whether it was punching Siraj through cover-point or chipping Jadeja with soft hands over midwicket, there was an artistry to his aggression. It wasn’t slogging; it was calculated risk, executed with confidence.

Praise from All Quarters: Fans, Legends, and the Media React

As Duckett brought up his milestone, social media exploded.

Former cricketers hailed it as one of the finest modern fourth-innings knocks.
Fans lauded his ability to transfer pressure back onto world-class bowlers.
The Sky Sports commentary box, which included Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain, repeatedly marvelled at the audacity and calm of the innings.

“Ben Duckett is batting like he’s chasing 150, not 370,” quipped Atherton during a spell when Duckett creamed three boundaries in an over off Siraj.

Even Indian fans, usually reserved in praise during opposition successes, acknowledged the brilliance. “Bazball or not, this is pure batting mastery,” one user posted on X.

Numbers Game: Milestones and Records

Duckett’s knock also helped him reach several personal milestones:

✅ 6th Test century, and second against India.
✅ First fourth-innings ton in his career.
✅ Crossed 2,500 Test runs, averaging over 43 against top-six ranked sides.
✅ Best fourth-innings score by an England opener since Alastair Cook (110) in 2010*.
✅ Fastest fourth-innings Test hundred by an English opener in modern history.

He now boasts one of the highest fourth-innings averages for England in the Bazball era, and is cementing his place as a long-term opener across formats.

India Left Searching: Bowlers Blunted, Strategy Questioned

For India, Duckett’s innings was a lesson in humility—and exposure.

Despite holding a lead of 370, India looked out of ideas as Duckett neutralized their main threats:

Jasprit Bumrah was tidy but lacked venom on a flattening pitch.
Mohammed Siraj strayed in line and length.
Ravindra Jadeja, normally India’s go-to, was milked and manipulated with reverse sweeps and clever footwork.

With no reverse swing and minimal turn, India’s attack appeared toothless. Critics questioned why Ashwin—left out once again—wasn’t picked, especially given the conditions offering some turn on Days 4 and 5.

Captain Shubman Gill was seen setting defensive fields midway through the second session—a telling sign that the initiative had firmly shifted.

Final Session Awaits: Duckett Poised for History

With rain expected to clear later in the day, the final session could still offer a gripping finish.

England need 190 more runs.
India need 10 wickets.
Duckett is *on 124, hungry for a match-winning knock.
Crawley is approaching a deserved half-century.

Should Duckett steer England home, it will rank among the greatest fourth-innings efforts in English Test history.

Even if rain plays spoilsport, this innings has already found its place in the pantheon of Headingley classics.

A Knock that Redefines the Fourth Innings

Ben Duckett’s century at Headingley was more than just a brilliant innings. It was a moment where modern Test cricket’s future collided with its rich past—a day when a fearless left-hander dared to do what generations before him hesitated to even attempt.

In scoring this hundred, Duckett didn’t just power a chase. He powered belief—within himself, his team, and an entire fanbase—that Test cricket doesn’t need to sacrifice flair for fight.

Headingley may be remembered for many great innings over the decades—but this Day 5 Duckett special will forever be etched as the innings that brought joy, speed, and genius to the final frontier of the game.

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