Crawley’s Early Flair and Duckett’s Grit: England’s Confident Start Against Indi

Siraj's fire, Bumrah’s intensity, and Jadeja’s guile test England’s openers in early exchanges

Date: June 23, 2025
Location: India (venue details not specified—could be Chennai, Ahmedabad, or another Test center)

The early session saw a compelling duel unfold between bat and ball as England’s openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett took on India’s fiery pace duo—Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj—under bright skies. 

Crawley oozed class with consecutive boundaries off Siraj in the 4th over. A full delivery on middle was elegantly flicked wide of mid-wicket, followed by a lofted punch over backward point—both shots showcasing his positive intent and timing.

Duckett, meanwhile, showcased resilience. Though struck on the thigh by Bumrah,

he shrugged off the pain, countered with a neat flick wide of mid-on, and calmly punched deliveries into gaps. A brief injury break didn’t deter his concentration.

India, sensing momentum, brought in Ravindra Jadeja to sneak in an over and preserve Bumrah’s energy. Jadeja operated with tight lines and variations, nudging Duckett and Crawley to keep the scoreboard ticking without risk.

As Kaushik rightly observed, “India want another over from Bumrah, so Jadeja is called up…”—a tactical shift showing how much respect Crawley and Duckett had earned early on.

📊 After 5 Overs:

• England: 18/0
• Zak Crawley: 11* (21)
• Ben Duckett: 7* (9)
• Bumrah: 3-0-9-0
• Siraj: 2-1-9-0

Stay tuned for more match insights as we decode every spell, every shot, and every strategic move!