England being two-nil down in a five-match Ashes series, with just two games played across only five days, raises a lot of questions about whether England are being arrogant or simply sticking to their “way of playing.” Whether they should continue with this philosophy in Test cricket is something only the English dressing room and its hierarchy can answer.
The first Test in Perth lasted only two days (practically one and a half), which is sometimes not even enough to get a result in a school two-day game. England’s downfall was mainly due to their batting and, more importantly, their approach to batting. On a green deck known for its high carry to the wicketkeeper at Perth, most English batters were dismissed driving on the up. The woes did not stop there; the same issues continued in their second innings, making life far too easy for the Aussie fast bowlers.
With the sporting world evolving through data and analytics and with the ECB being one of the best cricketing bodies at using technology effectively, their inability to get things right still remains something worth thinking about.
At the end of the day, technology and analysis stay inside the dressing room. The moment you step onto the field, it becomes you versus the ball. Your intent and temperament are tested in the middle, no matter how great a player you are.
At both Perth and Brisbane, the English batters fell like a deck of cards, and some of the shot selection was ridiculous to watch. It simply didn’t justify them being Test match players. The team’s approach might be to attack from the outset, but in Test cricket — a format played over five days, the most important thing is assessing the conditions and drawing up your game plan accordingly. As viewers, we saw the complete opposite of how a Test team should go about their cricket.
As the saying goes, “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” The Englishmen were the total opposite, playing straight into their opponents’ hands in both Tests.
Is Bazball the way to go?
Firstly, is what we saw in those two Tests truly Bazball? Or, if not, what exactly is this so-called Bazball? When Brendon McCullum took over as England’s red-ball coach alongside Ben Stokes as captain, England got off to a scintillating start in the Stokes–McCullum era, winning 10 of their first 11 games(most of the wins coming in home games).
Yes, they made a statement to the cricketing world, showing that this is the way they intend to play. But as time passed, teams became more prepared for the onslaught coming their way.
Heading into this Ashes tour, many expected something different from a touring English side. With the talent they possess, plenty of pundits predicted positive results. The way England responded, however, was abysmal and immature.
Fingers can be pointed at individuals, but accountability and responsibility should be taken by the entire team. The off-field pressure will only increase from here, more than they might expect, and playing through that will be a huge test of their character.
For the question: Is Bazball the way to go?
If Bazball is what we saw in the first two Tests, then the answer is a big, fat NO!.
