ONE FOR DUCKETT-LIST

"A MAN with new ideas," Marcelo Bielsa once said, "is a mad man, until his ideas triumph." Shubman Gill and India's management may have seen that quote plastered on a prominent Leeds wall on their way to Headingley.

- SWAROOP SWAMINATHAN @Chennai

Bielsa, the Uruguayan coach, lifted Leeds, a famous old club, and gave them a thriving modern identity a few years ago.

Thirty minutes north of Elland Road lies Headingley, a similarly atmospheric ground, home to some of the greatest English triumphs, none greater than Ben Stokes' fourth innings Houdini against Australia in 2019. Almost six years later, they have another moment to rival that Ashes win. On a stop-start, sun feeling a bit shy kind of day, the hosts managed to hold their nerve over India to take a 1-0 lead in the five-match Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

The hosts' usual suspect – Joe Root – took them home but it was Ben Duckett who orchestrated this run chase.

Before dissecting the southpaw's century, his contribution will be vindication to the 30-year-old. At Nottinghamshire's media day just before the start of the English cricketing summer, he was asked about Jasprit Bumrah. The opener, who had faced the pace ace in India last year, was mindful of his threat but maintained that he wouldn't surprise him. That was taken out of context. Soon enough, he was forced to delete his X account because people hadn't taken kindly to his thoughts.