Duckett and Crawley’s 166-run stand hurts India on England’s dominant day

After the mature, pragmatic climb to a match-winning first-innings total at Lord’s came the return of England’s more natural and freewheeling rhythms. On a raucous second day in Manchester that saw India dominated, Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum could have been forgiven for feeling rather smug as they watched the runs flow like wine.

It began with a successful dousing of India’s lower order either side of lunch as the second new ball moved lavishly under cloud cover. Stokes claimed his first five-wicket haul in Test cricket for eight years, Jofra Archer finished with three to further optimism about his comeback, and the tourists were bowled out for 358 in 114.1 overs.

And then, after the sun broke out, India’s seamers got it horribly wrong and England raced to 225 for two from 46 overs by stumps. Old Trafford’s acrophobia-inducing party stand was rocking like Heaton Park last week, Shubman Gill was struggling to find solutions, and memories of that thwarted Ashes Test here two years ago came flooding back. Here is hoping rain does not have such a say in this one.

There was no century for Zak Crawley this time, however, the opener shut down for 84 from 113 balls when he feathered an edge to slip off Ravindra Jadeja. Ben Duckett was then the second to miss out on three figures when, on 94, he looked to cut debutant Anshul Kamboj for his 14th boundary only to gallingly feather it behind. The long trudge off the field, eyes fixed on the floor, was a reminder of why cricket is so maddening.

But the pair had still ransacked 166 runs in just over two hours of batting bliss, with their fifth century stand since coming together in late 2022 the latest reminder of their complementary attributes. It has laid a significant platform for those lower down, too, with Ollie Pope and Joe Root set to resume in the morning unbeaten on 20 and 11 respectively. India, still 133 runs ahead, will hope those clouds roll back in.

Rishabh Pant added 17 painful runs before he was bowled by Jofra Archer. Photograph: Steve Taylor/PPAUK/Shutterstock

Daft thing was, their first innings looked a useful one at the time. The second new ball did plenty for England – too much at times – and not least when Archer got his fifth delivery to jag across Jadeja and clip the left-hander’s outside edge. Harry Brook, whose new cure for boredom in the slips is to throw his cap in the air and try to land it on his head, snaffled an excellent catch diving low to his left here. Thakur grafted hard for 41. But when Stokes replaced the remarkably luckless Chris Woakes and a thick edge flew to gully, the clank, clank, clank heard hobbling down the metal steps from the India dressing room signalled the emergence of Rishabh Pant, foot fractured, spirit undimmed. “Desh ke liye” – “For the country” – was what he apparently told friends the previous evening. Old Trafford rose as one to applaud.

What followed was an awkward watch at times, Stokes spearing in some feet-seeking yorkers to compound the pain and Pant’s struggle to run slowing things down. But there was still a dash of the impish magic that will be sorely missed at the Oval, Pant carting Archer for his 90th six in Test cricket – an Indian record he now shares with Virender Sehwag – and creaming a cover drive for four to bring up his half-century. Even his exit, bowled by Archer for 54 after adding 17 to his overnight score, was remarkable: a carbon copy of that ball that sent him packing at Lord’s but the stump cartwheeling backwards and sticking in the turf like a javelin. Archer, who finished with three for 73 from 26.1 overs, continues to impress on his comeback, both through his apparent hardiness and the issues he is causing India’s left-handers.

Although it was Stokes who shone brightest, with Washington Sundar bounced out for 27 and Kamboj nicked off to make it 16 wickets for the series – a career best that surpasses his eye-catching emergence during the otherwise howling 2013-14 Ashes tour. Whisper it, given all eyes are on India, but the rhythm and movement that Stokes has struck upon this summer augurs well for his return visit this winter.

Thereafter it was a case of Stokes kicking back in the dressing room, drinking in Duckett’s latest whirlwind, and watching Crawley book his plane ticket for Australia. Things appear to be coming together nicely for England in Manchester this week, while the one break to come India’s way – Pant’s right foot – has been ruinous.