England's Ben Duckett breaks a 30-year-old record

The opening partnership between Duckett and Crawley also breaks a 41 year old record

Last updated: June 24, 2025 | 19:04

Jai Rai, Assistant Editor

1 MIN READ

England's Ben Duckett celebrates his half-century on day five of the first cricket Test match against India at Headingley cricket ground in Leeds, northern England on June 24, 2025.

AFP

Dubai: England opener Ben Duckett became only the second opener after former captain Alastair Cook in 30 years to score twin 50-plus scores in a Headingley Test.

The first Test against India looked very much cruising towards England's favour as Duckett and Zak Crawley shared a fine 188-run partnership chasing a 371-run target.

Also Read: India vs England, 1st Test: Why England will win at Headingley

The solid stand ensured the duo scripted history by becoming the first English opening pair since 1984 to register a century partnership in the fourth innings at Headingley.

The last time this happened was when Desmond Haynes and Gordon Greenidge had shared a 106-run stand.

In the first innings,the opener hammered 62 and then powered his way to a blistering century in the second.

As Duckett experienced euphoria, this was the first century by an England opening batter in the fourth innings of a Test since Cook's unbeaten 109 against Bangladesh in Mirpur in 2010. His unbeaten ton is also his first second-innings century.

Jai RaiAssistant Editor

Jai is a seasoned journalist with more than two decades of experience across India and the UAE, specialising in sports reporting. Throughout his distinguished career, he has had the privilege of covering some of the biggest names and events in sports, including cricket, tennis, Formula 1 and golf. A former first-division cricket league captain himself, he brings not only a deep understanding of the game but also a cricketer's discipline to his work. His unique blend of athletic insight and journalistic expertise gives him a wide-ranging perspective that enriches his storytelling, making his coverage both detailed and engaging. Driven by an unrelenting passion for sports, he continues to craft compelling narratives that resonate with readers. As the day winds down for most, he begins his work, ensuring that the most captivating stories make it to the print edition in time for readers to receive them bright and early the next morning.