England’s barnstorming version of Test cricket has shredded the textbook of the sport’s longest format but so-called ‘Bazball’ faces its biggest examination yet as they seek to regain the Ashes against world champions Australia starting on Friday.
Conventional cricketing wisdom has been turned upside down by England coach Brendon ‘Baz’ McCullum and captain Ben Stokes in a scintillating run of 11 victories from 13 Tests.
Scoring at a head-spinning average of almost five runs an over under McCullum, England’s risk-takers have re-imagined the approach to Test cricket and transformed the country’s fortunes after a run of only one win from 17 Tests previously.
It has bamboozled India, New Zealand, South Africa, Pakistan. England made a first-day record 506 runs in 75 overs in the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
And against New Zealand at home last year, they made daunting fourth innings victory targets of 277, 299 and 297 look as demanding as a walk in park.
The big question, however, as the opening Test looms at Edgbaston today is whether England will play with the same almost reckless abandon against an Australia side possessing arguably the best pace attack in the world.
Stokes and McCullum have given no hint at reeling it in during the build-up to the most eagerly-awaited series since the classic 2005 edition won by England.
Whether Australia, who reclaimed the Ashes in 2018 with a 4-0 home win, retained them with a 2-2 draw in England in 2019 before another 4-0 home rout in 2021, try to fight fire with fire is another matter.
Pat Cummins’ side are not exactly shrinking violets and will begin quest for a first series win in England since 2001 full of confidence after convincingly beating India in London to win the World Test Championship.
Steve Smith, so often a thorn in England’s side, scored a century in the first innings against India and along with Marnus Labuschagne will form the bedrock of Australia’s batting while Travis Head will be a handful for England’s bowlers.
But how their bowling unit of Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood react when faced with ‘Bazball’ for the first time could be the key to the outcome.
“Every Ashes series gets the juices flowing but there’s added excitement this time around,” former England skipper Nasser Hussain told The Metro.
“That’s because of the brand and style of cricket this England side are playing. There’s that question we all have: can they turn up and do to Australia what they have done to every other side they’ve come up against?”
Meanwhile Australia captain Cummins said yesterday that England will face a “more aggressive” David Warner in this year’s Ashes compared to the opener who struggled for runs during the 2019 series.
Four years ago, Warner averaged a meagre 9.50 in 10 innings.
The now 36-year-old was also dismissed seven times by veteran England bowler Stuart Broad during a campaign that ended 2-2, with the pair set to be in opposition again when the first Test of a five-match series starts at Edgbaston today. “Davey, I know will have all his plans in place,” Cummins told a pre-match press conference.
“I’m sure you’ll see a bit more of an aggressive Davey than perhaps in 2019, and he’s itching to get out there and have another chance at it.”
England captain Ben Stokes yesterday insisted there will be no let-up in his side’s dynamic ‘Bazball’ approach during the Ashes series against arch-rivals Australia.
All-rounder Stokes, a veteran of several Ashes campaigns, told a pre-match press conference at Edgbaston yesterday: “Today has been the most relaxed the group has felt. We are really excited to get going, it’s been a long time coming.”
He added: “What we have done over the last year is show how we want to play. We found a way that we are able to get the best out of the team and also the individuals.”
Ashes-holders Australia last week defeated India in the World Test Championship final at The Oval.
But Stokes was adamant that England had no plans to modify their style against Cummins’s powerful side during the five-match series.
“We get asked if we will continue to play this way against this opposition or that opposition,” he said.
“This is how England play. It’s worked more than it’s not” Stokes told reporters.
“There’s no doubt about how we are going to play against Australia.”