BLOCKBUSTER FINISH WILL BE A HUGE DRAW

Stokes and Bazball facing the ultimate Test of nerve

- By Mike Walters

ENGLAND'S aversion to draws, in contravention of the Bazball bible, may be sorely tested today after they were caught with their Pants down again.

To regain the Ashes this winter, skipper Ben Stokes must be prepared to batten down the hatches and settle for attrition if his side are under the pump.

After England were set 371 to win the first Test against India, having been put to the sword by showman Rishabh Pant’s second century of the match, openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett survived six overs to shave 21 off their target.

In yet another Headingley classic, all results are on the table. England will need to raise the bar a notch above the 362-9 chased down heroically by Stokes against Australia in 2019 and significantly higher than the 315-4 inspired by Mark Butcher's unbeaten 173 in the 2001 Ashes.

Another 350 off a minimum 90 overs is within range for a team who like to bat as if they have a train to catch.