Former South Africa captain AB de Villiers has praised England’s new philosophy in Test cricket under the leadership of Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum. De Villiers commended the team’s bold approach, particularly their decision to declare on 393 runs in the first Ashes Test, which impressed him greatly.

According to De Villiers, England’s style of play reflects smart cricket and a strong focus on winning. He highlighted that the team takes calculated risks and is unafraid of making bold decisions. He expressed admiration for their adaptability and their ability to play situations in a manner that puts them in a winning position more often than their opponents.

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In a tweet, the former cricketer wrote, “I never looked at the Birmingham weather leading up to this Test match. The way England played now makes sense. Call it what you want, some say Bazz Ball, I just think it’s smart Cricket. The best teams are prepared to adapt and play situations in a way that’ll ultimately put them in a winning position more often than the rest, whether that’s by making bold declarations or playing reverse sweeps a lot, whatever it takes.”

Btw, Aus also plays like that. Have been for ages! Nothing new.

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) June 20, 2023

De Villiers further emphasized that a great team is characterized by players who have no egos and are not solely driven by personal statistics. He drew a comparison with the Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League, considering them as a team with a similar mindset. He believes that England’s current team shares this quality and demonstrates a collective commitment to being the best team in the world.

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“The only way to make it impactful is to have a complete buy-in from every individual, no egos, no stats-driven players, just a full-on buy-in to be the best team in the world. That’s how I see the Eng team play atm (at the moment). Also saw that with MSD and co. in the IPL,” De Villiers concluded.

De Villiers’ remarks highlight his admiration for England’s fearless and team-oriented approach to Test cricket, acknowledging the positive impact it has had on their recent performances.