Image Credit- AFP
Ben Duckett’s incredible century, which came at 88
balls and was the third fastest against India in history, left the hosts
stunned after they once again failed to score any runs in their opening 445-run
innings. The streakiness that one might expect from a century at this rate was
completely absent. In his first 102 runs, Duckett hit one six and nineteen
fours, all off the edge. Duckett’s stroke-play left every bowler caught off
guard as he pounced on any width from the quicks, swept and reverse-swept the spinners
to distract them, and then took advantage of the resulting shorter deliveries.
Not that preparations or build-ups were effective, as
Duckett proved. Duckett kept close to the line and crashed the quicks through
the off side despite India’s attempt to bowl the channel. Duckett swiped and
reverse-swept seven fours in his first four overs despite Kuldeep Yadav’s
wristspin attempts. After taking out Zak Crawley for his 500th Test wicket,
Duckett slog-swept a good-length ball off the stumps and then went back and
removed R Ashwin. Ashwin was not given much time to celebrate.
Duckett looked to be in trouble only once, during the
opening four overs, when he was defeated five times. He attempted to reach a
four-ball each time he noticed breadth, and he was not deterred from trying
again.
Though they batted with confidence and comfort, Crawley, England’s top batsman
so far this series, and Ollie Pope, who struck the stunning 196 to steal the
first Test away from India, were relegated to mere bystanders.
However, it was the alliance with Crawley that caused
India to regress once more. In five innings this series, this was their fourth
association of 50 or more. All visiting openers combined had assembled four
stands of fifty or more between 2018 and 2023. When Ashwin took the bowl,
Duckett and Crawley had already gotten a significant lead, so he began with an
outside leg disadvantage against Crawley. As a result, he eventually claimed
his historic wicket when the ball bounced off the rough and took the upper edge
during the sweep.
With the probable exception of Mohammed Shami
replacing Mohammed Siraj, India was playing their greatest assault at home,
which was a special reason for urgency. Still, England was dominating them
without any issues, pressure from the scoreboard be damned.
India then chose to decrease the game’s pace. They followed England’s lead in
handling Mark Wood. Later, when Siraj delivered one on a length, it exhibited
the same wobble-seam behaviour as his new ball. Before India had any relief,
there had to be a review after such a successful ball with the old ball. In
just thirty overs, England had already reached 182 for 2, trapping Pope on the
crease.
Duckett’s contempt did not subside despite the wicket
being just around the corner. Without any delay, he flipped Jadeja around for a
clean six, winning the point that would have been his if he hadn’t changed
positions. When Duckett changed his defence in the final over, Ashwin nearly
got him out, but the offbreak had fallen just outside leg.
India will be reminded of how easily they gave their own away by the amount of
work they have to put in to gain their wickets.