England has been riding high on their unique style of Test cricket, known as ‘Bazball,’ a strategy introduced during Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s tenure. This approach has brought success for England, but its effectiveness has waned in Indian conditions, as evidenced by their recent struggles against the hosts.
Despite winning the series opener in Hyderabad, England faced significant setbacks in the subsequent matches, especially in Rajkot, where they suffered their most substantial defeat by runs since 1934.
Under Brendon McCullum’s leadership, England had an impressive record, winning 14 out of 20 Tests before the Rajkot defeat. As the series moves to Ranchi, England aims to bounce back and level the series at 1-1. However, former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes that success for England in Indian conditions will be a challenging feat.
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“Bazball is good, but it’s difficult for England to be successful in Indian conditions. I will be surprised if India lose the series. Please remember that India are playing without Virat [Kohli], KL [Rahul]. It’s a young team with many new faces, and yet, England are struggling,” remarked Sourav Ganguly in an interview with Mid Day.
“Bazball is good, but it’s difficult for 🏴 England to be successful in 🇮🇳 Indian conditions”
– Sourav Gangulyhttps://t.co/7d09Wfde22
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) February 20, 2024
Sourav Ganguly praised young talents Yashasvi Jaiswal and Sarfaraz Khan for their courageous performances against England, stepping up in the absence of experienced players. Jaiswal showcased his prowess with a consecutive double-century in Rajkot, while Sarfaraz impressed with back-to-back fifty-plus scores.
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“Jaiswal is not only a good player, he’s capable of playing all formats of the game. Sarfaraz has started well. He now has to score in foreign countries. Sarfaraz is a good example for budding cricketers, who must keep in mind that if they score consistently, they will get their chances,” emphasized Sourav Ganguly.
