By Nick Hoult June 25, 2025 — 11.43am
In the evening light and as grey clouds circled Headingley, England pulled off another miraculous triumph with a performance that suggests Bazball has shifted into a new, mature phase.
Joe Root – of course it was Joe Root – guided them home to a five-wicket victory over India with a nerveless 53 not out after Ben Duckett’s 149 made the impossible possible. This win will be all the more satisfying because India were in the ascendancy for most of the Test and England made mistakes but still won.
Joe Root and Jamie Smith embrace after England secure victory on day five of their Test against India. Credit: Getty Images
They stuck India in at the toss in glorious batting conditions and conceded 835 runs in the match but still made 373 to win with 13 overs to spare. It is the second-highest total they have successfully chased down in Test cricket and the 10th highest successful chase of all time.
They were confidently in charge for most of the final day by batting with great control and at an easy tempo but there were scares when they lost two in two and needed 165 with six wickets left. When Ben Stokes was out there was still another 69 to be chipped away but Jamie Smith a
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