Michael Hussey Sings Praise On England’s Bazball: Former Australian cricketer Mike Hussey has given his seal of approval to England’s ‘Bazball’ strategy. Known affectionately as ‘Mr. Cricket’, Hussey, a formidable batter in his playing days, described the approach as “awesome” for Test cricket. He further expressed that England’s tactical shift was not only intriguing but also added an exciting dimension to the already hyped-up Ashes series.
After being down 2-0 against the reigning world Test champions, England fought back to level the series 2-2. Had rain not interrupted the fourth Test at Old Trafford, England’s ‘Bazball’ might have produced even more favorable results. This audacious policy has not only justified itself but also attracted new fans to the longer format of the game.
Reflecting on the series, Hussey stated, “It’s created so much interest in Test cricket. You’re going to get that with an Ashes series anyway, but it’s created even more hype around it.” He commended England for having the courage to execute such an aggressive strategy against high-quality bowlers on challenging pitches.
Hussey, who amassed 6,235 runs in 79 Tests between 2005 and 2013, watched the beginning of the 2023 Ashes series from his home in Australia. Later, he headed to the UK to coach the Welsh Fire men’s team at The Hundred. He shared his insights on how Australia reacted to England’s strategy.
According to Hussey, the Australian team showed concern over England’s ‘Bazball’ strategy. He believes that it put additional pressure on the Australian bowling unit. Despite the criticism that captain Pat Cummins faced for his tactics, Hussey thinks he did well. He said, “Australia backed their way of playing and said ‘if England wants to play that way it’s fine, we can plan for that. We’re not going to change the way we play our best cricket’.”
Michael Hussey gives his vote of confidence to England’s Bazball
The Ashes series saw Australia sticking to their guns, which eventually paid off as they retained the Ashes. This was a delightful outcome for the Australian fans, who admired their team’s steadfastness in the face of England’s unorthodox approach.
Hussey, having previously served as a batting consultant for England’s successful T20 World Cup campaign, offered some foresight into England’s future approach. He is optimistic that under the guidance of coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, England’s Test cricket strategy will continue to evolve.
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As we look ahead, the 2025-26 Ashes series could present a far different Australian side. The lessons learned from this series will undoubtedly shape the tactics of both teams in the future. Regardless of the outcome, one thing is clear: ‘Bazball’ has made Test cricket more thrilling than ever, as validated by the endorsement of ‘Mr. Cricket’ himself, Mike Hussey.
