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LONDON: England’s opening pair Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley created history on Friday after setting a new opening record here at the Oval in the fifth Test of the series against India.
The opening pair provided England a belligerent start after bundling out the visitors for a modest 224-run total.
Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett added 92 runs for the first wicket in just 12.5 overs. With this stand, the opening pair surpassed Alastair Cook and Andrew Strauss to record the most runs as a pair against India.
Cook and Strauss have opened for England for six years from 2006 to 2012, amassing an overall of 4711 runs in 117 innings. England’s most successful opening pair notched up 12 century stands and 18 half-centuries in that period at an impressive average of 40.96
Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett have so far amassed 984 runs as an opening pair in 18 innings, whereas Cook and Strauss had scored 932 runs in 20 innings against India.
Additionally, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett levelled with the former West Indies opening pair of Gordon Greenidge and Desmond Haynes for most half-century stands against India in Test cricket.
The duo have stitched together eight 50-plus opening stands against India.
Meanwhile, Akash Deep ended the brisk opening stand with Ben Duckett, who fell after making 42 off 38 balls with the aid of two maximums and five fours.
In a short time, Zak Crawley was also removed, making 64 off 57 balls, reducing the home side to 129-2 in pursuit of India’s first innings total.
It is pertinent to note that India is trailing 2-1 in the series and needs a win to level the series, whereas a draw will hand the England Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.
