Good job Test cricket is over five days

BBC News

24-06-2025

Captain Ben Stokes said "it is a good job Test cricket is played over five days" following questions over his decision at the toss in England's epic victory over India.Stokes opted to field despite ideal batting conditions on the opening day of the first Test at Headingley.India reached 430-3 in their first innings, but England battled back and completed a superb run chase of 371 late on the fifth day."You make a decision and you don't know what is going to happen," Stokes told Test Match Special."We did what we needed to do in the crucial moments of this game. This win is not down to just the skill, but the attitude of this dressing room."Stokes' decision to field followed a trend in his captaincy. On the 10 occasions England have won the toss in home Tests since Stokes became captain in 2022, they have fielded first on nine occasions.In those nine matches, they have won seven, lost one and drawn one, the latter a game they probably would have won against Australia at Old Trafford in 2023 had rained not wiped out most of the final two days.Headingley is also a ground suited to batting second. From the 81 venues that have hosted Tests since 2011, Leeds is the only one that has progressively produced more runs per wicket, innings on innings, throughout a match.And Stokes was vindicated by victory in the opener to the five-match series against India. England's pursuit, led by an astonishing 149 from Ben Duckett, was their second-highest in Tests, bettered only by the 378 chased to beat the same opponents at Edgbaston in 2022.
After the opening day at Headingley, former captain Michael Vaughan said he was "staggered" by England's decision to field first, but Stokes said: "It's a good job Test cricket is played over five days."Asked if his belief in his decision was ever shaken, Stokes said: "Imagine thinking that way after day one, before we've even had chance to bat on a wicket."India's collapse from 430-3 to 471 came on the second morning. Only one team in Test history has had more runs for the loss of three wickets in their first innings and gone on to lose."You never know what a wicket is going to play like half an hour before any cricket has been on it," added Stokes."It looked like there was a lot of top moisture on it, it felt like there was. You do first what you think will give you the best chance of winning the game."Headingley does generally quite a lot early on. I thought it was a great chance to potentially nick three or four in the first hour. The opposition are allowed to play well."The second Test at Edgbaston begins on 2 July.England could welcome back pace bowler Jofra Archer for his first Test in more than four years.The 30-year-old has overcome a string of injuries and played in the County Championship for Sussex this week, his first first-class game since 2021."It's always great seeing Jofra out there, playing for England, playing for Sussex," said Stokes. "It's obviously been a very long time for him and watching him get that red ball back in his hand is very exciting."