Ben Stokes And Brendon McCullum’s Bazballers have revolutionized Test cricket with their looking-for-aggressive-option mentality throughout the game. Be it with the bat, bat, or in the field, Ben Stokes and his side has chosen to put pressure on the opposition at all times in the game.
That has resulted in fruitful results for the Three Lions. Since Ben Stokes and McCullum joined hands in mid-2022, no team in the world has won more than the 13 Test matches that England have won. England have not yet lost a single Test series under this pair. This includes a 2-2 Ashes drawn series at home against Australia, which, though, England had a good chance at winning 3-2 after being 0-2 down but for the rain on Day 5 in the fourth Test.
England’s toughest test so far, however, will come in the coming weeks: against India in India. India have a daunting home record: India have not lost a Test series at home in the past decade, and have lost only three Test matches in this period.
But the Bazballers of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum could rewrite history in India, as Alastair Cook’s team did in 2012.
2 reasons why the Ben Stokes led England’s Bazball team can defeat India in the upcoming Test series:
The extremely spin-friendly tracks can backfire on India
After the Cape Town Test in South Africa, Rohit Sharma said he doesn’t mind playing on such tough batting tracks if the media doesn’t criticise the spin-friendly pitches in India. That was perhaps an indication that a trail by spin is awaiting for England.
However, the Indian team and the fans would remember how this strategy backfired on them against Australia in the Indore Test last year where India were bowled out for 109 and 163 and lost by 9 wickets.
Stokes and McCullum had introduced the Bazball approach to look to maximize your stay at the crease. England had been losing a lot already under Joe Root while trying to play traditional cricket. So under the new coach and captain, they thought they might as well play aggressively and see where it goes. It has worked like a charm for them so far. If some other things go right for them against India, they could become the team to break India’s undefeated home record.
England’s talented players could surprise India
It won’t be the first time that England will have unleashed some uncapped players against India, and they could do well. England have picked up Shoaib Bashir, a 20-year-old offspinner, and Tom Hartley, a left-arm finger-spinner with little experience, in the squad to support Rehan Ahmed and Jack Leach.
A major drawback of the extremely spin-friendly tracks that India produces is that it even makes less quality and less experienced spinners a threat; even Joe Root took a five-for on the previous trip here in Ahmedabad. India need to be careful of the pitches they dish out and how they tackle the English spinners.
England also brim with talented batters like Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, and Harry Brook, all capable of changing the momentum of the game in a session or two.
