Bazball – England’s aggressive approach has finally met it’s match. After 8 Test series, Bazball has failed. Interestingly it was also the first litmus Test for Bazball. India came back strongly after the Hyderabad Test loss to secure the series with a 3-1 win with a game still left to play.
India remained firm and gritty as they etched a 5 wicket win in the IND vs ENG Ranchi Test to seal the series. Also it should be taken into account that India didn’t manage to field their best Test side. Virat Kohli was absent owing to the birth of his child while KL Rahul managed to play only a solitary match so far.
England with their balanced squad crumbled under India’s excellence and pressure as the hosts go on to register their 17th unbeaten Test win streak at home. England since 2022 instilled fear in the minds of the opposition after their aggressive approach in the game.
Brendon McCullum instilled this approach for the Three Lions since taking charge, especially after England’s humiliating 4-0 loss to Australia in the Ashes 2021. Since then, England won 4 Test match series and drew the other 3.
The in 2024 England travelled to India. They mighty force met the immovable object, the hosts India. England managed to overpower India in Hyderabad taking an early 1-0 lead. But then India regained charge and won the next 3 matches at Vizag, Rajkot and Ranchi to seal the series. The final match will be held in Dharamsala.
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Why Bazball Failed In India?
There are quite a few factors that contribute to Bazball’s failure in India. Ranging from poor form of players to injuries, England looked a weak side. The visitors lacked the oomph in them to prove their worth. The batters lacked composure and form. Save a few centuries from Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Joe Root, the rest of the English batters were a shadow of their former selves.
Adding more concern to the English side was the injury and workload management of some key players. Harry Brook withdrew himself from the series. Shoaib Bashir missed the first Test with visa trouble. Jack Leach suffered a knee injury, returned home and is set to go under the knife.
Rehan Ahmed returns withdraws himself from the series to return home for personal issues. Ben Stokes continues to tease on his bowling, but fails to take the leap in the game, summarises the hot-potch that England is in currently.
It is safe to say India hasn’t been great in the series. But the hosts were much more compact and coordinated. Yashasvi Jasiwal has been the stand alone performer. India with a rather young batting order, survived the ordeal simple because they coordinated better, coupled with some bowling delights from the spinner trio.
End of Bazball?
Is it the end of Bazball? Surely, not! England has got huge success from this aggressive approach. They won’t change that. Next comes the aesthetic and feel good part of the style. An entertaining style of scoring big runs in a small phase of time, attracts and keep fans engaged.
Brendon McCullum will surely have a lot to access before they take on West Indies in July. Bazball has been a hit at home, but now after failing in India, people will surely scrutinise how England fairs with this approach in overseas conditions.
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