 "'Bazball exposed, it’s embarrassing': Ex-England cricketers question Ben Stokes and Co after Rajkot thrashing")
England cricketers, coaching staff, experts and fans have never shied away from expressing their proudness over the Test team’s Bazball style of play that has reinvigorated the fortunes of the side in the five-day format. Under coach Brendon McCullum’s guidance the Ben Stokes’ side has won 14 out of 21 matches, suffering just six defeats with one draw.
It’s a record to be proud of with 14 wins from 21 matches, but it seems like things are just starting to unravel.
Two of the six defeats have come consecutively in their last two matches in India on a tour that was expected to be their toughest Test. The latest 434-run defeat has been a chastening experience in particular as friends have started to turn into foe for the England cricket team.
‘Bazball has been exposed’
After England were bowled out for 122 chasing 557 in fourth India-England Test at Rajkot, former Three Lions captain Michael Vaughan was quick to remark that Bazball has been “exposed”. And he is not the only voice of dissent in the England cricketing circle.
“I am afraid Bazball has been exposed this week. It’s great when it works. The first Test was a pitch that did all sorts so I get Bazball on that pitch, but not the last two where the pitches have been absolutely fine to just play with positive intent but more so common sense,” Vaughan said on BBC.
Vaughan had seen the writing on the wall even before the final result was in
“Let’s be honest, this could get messy for England. They have lost games in the Bazball era but they have never really been hammered. This could be the first,” Vaughan had said.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe cricket-turned-commentator also took to X (formerly Twitter) to assert his views that England will need to be flexible. Only one way of playing has backfired.
“Even when this England team have lost in the last 2 years you have always been able to take positives .. or they haven’t been hammered .. this is looking like a wake up call that surely sends a message you can’t just play one way against quality teams,” Vaughan posted.
‘Not going to win that many games’
Former England captain Michael Atherton had a similar advice where he pointed out that Bazball can be harmful if England keeps giving away huge leads.
“You know, I’m like many others have been hugely thrilled watching England over the last two years on the Ben Stokes. They play some fantastic cricket… But they’re not going to get it right all the time. They didn’t get it quite right in this game,” Atherton said on Sky Sports.
“That first innings collapse is very difficult to win games in India from behind. They did it in Hyderabad, which is a rarity. You’re not going to win that many games if you keep giving away a lead of more than 100 runs in the first innings,” he added.
Root’s dismissal in focus
Much of the ire by the way has been directed towards Joe Root’s dismissal as a result of reverse scoop to Jasprit Bumrah in the first innings of the third Test.
The London Telegraph’s Scyld Berry branded Root’s dismissal as “the worst, most stupid, shot in the history of England’s Test cricket” in his article.
England legend Geoffrey Boycott said to The Telegraph Sport that the dismissal made Root look like a “chump”.
“It looks clever when it comes off,” Boycott said.
“When it doesn’t, it’s embarrassing and you look a chump. What a wasted wicket by such a talented player.”
Nasser Hussain had a more balanced take away where he said that the timing of Root’s shot was wrong and not the intent.
“Now, I don’t have a problem with him playing that stroke, because it’s one he’s executed very effectively in the past,” Hussain wrote for The Daily Mail.
“But, when Ravichandran Ashwin is missing, when Ravindra Jadeja is being eased back into cricket by his captain. When Root’s nemesis of recent times in Jasprit Bumrah is playing his third Test in a row amid talk of needing a rest, I would question the timing of it.”
Stokes stays defiant
England captain, however, remains positive about his approach and despite a crushing loss at Rajkot, gave no signs of backing down.
“Ben Duckett played an unbelievable innings, that was the tone we wanted to set with the bat. (First-innings approach) It was about identifying opportunities to score and push up to their total. With how the wicket was going we wanted to push it on as much as we could but sometimes that doesn’t work out. Opinions in the dressing room are the ones that matter to us. We’re 2-1 down in the series but still have two games left. We leave this game behind, know we’ve got to win the next two to win the series,” Stokes said at the end of the match.
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