Sports

IIE DIGITAL DESK : England etched their names into cricketing folklore on June 24, 2025, at Leeds’ Headingley, orchestrating one of the most dramatic Test finishes in recent memory. Chasing a formidable total of 371 in the fourth innings, the hosts triumphed by five wickets, seizing a 1–0 lead in the opening Test of the five-match Anderson–Tendulkar Trophy. This monumental chase underscores England’s aggressive and fearless style under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum – the exhilarating “Bazball” era. 

From the outset, it was clear England were in for a storming effort. Openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett took the bowlers to task, bringing up an 188‑run partnership, the second‑highest fourth‑innings opening stand in England’s history. Duckett’s magnificent 149 off just 170 deliveries, studded with 21 fours and a reverse‑sweep six off Ravindra Jadeja, carved the path for victory. Crawley's 65-ball inning was equally essential, providing stability alongside the fireworks.

Despite a mid‑innings wobble—with quick wickets from Shardul Thakur and Ravindra Jadeja threatening to shift the momentum—England’s middle order held firm. Joe Root’s unbeaten 53 anchored the innings, while Jamie Smith smashed the winning runs, including a powerful long‑reach six that sent the packed crowd into raptures. The winning total, 373/5 in 82 overs, marks England's second‑highest successful fourth‑innings chase and ranks among the largest overall fourth‑innings pursuits in Test history.

This wasn’t just a day for batting heroics. India had earlier amassed 471 and 364 in their two innings—a total of 835 runs, featuring a remarkable five individual centuries by Yashasvi Jaiswal (101), Shubman Gill (147), KL Rahul (137), and an incredible double ton plus another in the second innings by Rishabh Pant (134 & 118). Yet, stunningly, this remains the first occasion in Test cricket history that a side has scored five centuries and still lost a Test match.

India’s lower-order collapses—twice losing six wickets for fewer than 50 runs—and costly fielding lapses, including several dropped chances by Yashasvi Jaiswal, proved pivotal. Ben Stokes acknowledged that England’s bowlers decisively dismantled India’s tail twice, stemming any chance of an unassailable total. “We didn’t allow it to get above 450–500, which India could easily have done,” Stokes reflected, crediting both skill and mental resilience. 

Stokes was full of praise for Duckett’s performance: “Duckett was unbelievable… that partnership between Zak and Duckett was just incredible.” He also saluted Crawley’s composed play, noting their left‑hand, right‑hand combo was “very hard for the bowlers to settle in.”

India’s debut Test captain, Shubman Gill, had a tough initiation. Despite the batting exploits, his bowlers struggled, and the fielding lapses drew sharp critique. Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar was scathing, calling India’s fielding “not Test class,” a performance reflected in the dropped opportunities that proved costly. 

This loss marks a significant statistical and psychological blow. India became the first team in 148 years to lose a Test after five centuries, and their 835‑run aggregate is the fourth‑highest total ever in a Test match by a losing side.Meanwhile, England’s chase of 371 is only bettered once—by Australia’s record 404 in 1948—and is among the highest successful chases on the final day of a Test. 

With this thrilling contest now in the books, England take a momentum‑boosting 1–0 lead in the series. As the teams head to Edgbaston for the second Test beginning July 2, questions abound over India’s strategy under captain Gill and coach Gautam Gambhir, now under scrutiny. Can India regroup, or will England continue their white‑ball‑style aggression into the Tests ahead?

Either way, the stage is set for a captivating series – and if this opener is anything to go by, fans are in for a spectacle.