England’s Ben Duckett Breaks 30-Year Headingley Record in Historic Test Victory

Ben Duckett delivered a remarkable performance in the first Test against India at Headingley, scoring a match-winning 149 runs and leading England to a challenging target of 371, one of their highest successful chases. Duckett's innings was noted for its composure and aggressive strokeplay, including a key reverse sweep boundary, earning him comparisons to England greats like Ian Botham and Ben Stokes, and placing him among the elite openers alongside Alastair Cook, as he became only the second English opener in 30 years to score twin 50-plus innings at Headingley. His partnership of 188 with Zak Crawley set a strong foundation, despite late wickets creating tension, with Joe Root and Jamie Smith finishing the chase confidently. Former England captain Nasser Hussain praised Duckett as one of the best Test cricketers, highlighting his calm demeanor and shot selection against India's pace attack. India's innings featured strong centuries from KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant but ended in a late collapse, which contributed to England's successful pursuit. This victory sets the stage for the second Test at Edgbaston, with England taking a 1-0 lead in the series.