England captain Ben Stokes has shared that head coach Brendon McCullum isn’t a fan of the term ‘Bazball.’ Stokes highlighted the team’s effort to steer clear of using the term as much as possible.
Ben Stokes Made A Big Statement On The Term ‘Bazball’
The term ‘Bazball’ originated within English media in the summer of 2022 when the England cricket team embraced an assertive strategy in Test matches. During that notable summer, led by Stokes and Company, England achieved four consecutive successful chases, including an impressive pursuit of 378 against India at Edgbaston.
Speaking to Jio Cinema in an interview, Ben Stokes said:
“Bazball. It’s a phrase that got created in the media. It’s something that we try and stay away from. Baz hates it. Whenever that word pops up, we just try and say that’s how the England team plays its Test match cricket.”
POV: You are watching Bazball in India. pic.twitter.com/pfUcYgA75m
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) January 25, 2024
The aggressive tactics employed by the English team resulted in series sweeps over New Zealand at home and Pakistan away. Despite their bold approach, they were unable to reclaim the Ashes on home soil last year, with the series concluding in a 2-2 draw.
Meanwhile, talking about the ongoing first Test, England’s visiting captain entered the fray during a crucial phase. Opting to bat after winning the toss, England’s top order stumbled to 60-3, but Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow steadied the innings with a 60-run partnership. Axar Patel dismissed Bairstow, and shortly after, Root fell to Ravindra Jadeja. Ben Foakes and Rehan Ahmed were quickly dismissed, contributing to England’s challenging start. The lead-up to the Test was marred by controversy as uncapped spinner Shoaib Bashir faced visa issues, returning to the UK with plans to join the squad over the weekend.
