England faced a stark turn of fortunes after their initial Test victory in Hyderabad, succumbing to a 1-4 series defeat against India. The middle-order batting struggled, and the inexperienced spin attack failed to trouble Indian batters, leaving captain Ben Stokes unimpressed. Stokes acknowledged the defeat as a learning lesson, expressing his determination to improve his performance in the upcoming English summer.
During the fifth Test in Dharamshala, the crowd taunted England’s performance with a viral chant, singing ‘Bazball gets battered everywhere they go.’ Jonny Bairstow, near the boundary, responded to the crowd, though his words remained indecipherable.
The “Bazball” approach adopted by England has come under scrutiny post the series defeat, with criticism labelling it as reckless, particularly against quality opposition. However, Stokes clarified the concept, stating it goes beyond merely playing an aggressive brand of cricket.
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He explained, “The media name Bazball – everyone says ‘what is it?’ In my opinion, it’s wanting to be a better player. In the face of defeat and failure, Bazball will hopefully inspire people to become better players and become even better than what we are.”
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This series loss marked England’s first since Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes took charge of the Test side. However, questions have arisen about the approach’s effectiveness, given Australia’s retention of the Ashes and the defeat against India.
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Despite the critique, England doesn’t plan an immediate shift in approach, believing their players are best suited for this style. Instead, they acknowledge the need for consistency, a lacking element in the team’s current performance. As they face scrutiny, England aims to focus on refining their play rather than abandoning the Bazball philosophy.
