England’s sensational five-wicket win over India in the first Test at Headingley wasn’t just another Bazball masterclass — it was a matured, calibrated evolution of the philosophy. Chasing a mammoth 371, the tenth-highest successful chase in Test history, England showcased aggression tempered with discipline, scripting a flawless Day 5.
Here’s how they aced the pursuit:
Duckett And Crawley Lay The Perfect Platform
England’s openers Ben Duckett and Zak Crawley took the sting out of India’s attack early on, producing a 188-run stand that crushed any nerves in the English dressing room. Duckett, the aggressor, played a near-flawless knock of 149, dispatching anything remotely loose and unsettling India’s spinners with fearless sweeps and reverse sweeps.
Crawley, usually all flamboyance, reined himself in — his 65 off 126 was the slowest fifty of his career and a masterclass in patience. Together, they covered over half the target and drained India's bowlers.
Middle-Order Wobbles Give India Hope
After a dominant first session, England hit turbulence post-lunch. Prasidh Krishna found rhythm, dismissing Crawley and Ollie Pope in quick succession. Shardul Thakur removed Duckett and Harry Brook off consecutive balls to be on a hat-trick. From 188/0, England stumbled to 227/4. With Ben Stokes walking in at 6, the match teetered on the edge, and India sensed a comeback.
Root And Smith Calm The Storm
Just as the pendulum swung India’s way, two Yorkshiremen took control. Joe Root, batting in front of his home crowd, was ice-cool in his unbeaten 53, expertly guiding the chase with late cuts and nudges. Jamie Smith, the debutant wicketkeeper, erased memories of a first-innings failure with a fluent 44*. His audacious sixes off Ravindra Jadeja accelerated the finish and signalled England’s growing depth.
Refined Bazball: Risk With Responsibility
This wasn’t reckless slogging. England chased 371 in just 82 overs, but their tempo was rooted in control. Duckett’s innings was high-octane but calculative, while Crawley’s restraint showed adaptability. Even the counter-attacking moments — like Smith’s 18-run over off Jadeja — came with the match already under control. It was Bazball 2.0: intelligent aggression with a safety net.
India’s Missed Chances And Tactical Blunders
While England executed with clinical precision, India contributed to their downfall. Six dropped catches, including three by Jaiswal, let key batters off the hook. Captain Shubman Gill’s bowling rotations raised eyebrows — Bumrah bowled just 11 overs in the second innings and none in the final 17; Siraj was left out of the attack between overs 41 and 81. The tail collapsed twice (7/41 and 6/31), turning dominant positions into lost ground.
Statement Win For Stokes’ England
Ben Stokes’ gamble to bowl first on a flat pitch was vindicated in spectacular style. For India, it was a sobering start to a new era, with Gill facing hard captaincy lessons. England, meanwhile, have now won six in a row at Headingley — and this latest win, refined and ruthless, suggests the Bazball juggernaut is evolving with serious intent.
