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The end came swiftly. It took New Zealand only 51.2 overs to wrap up the England second innings at Trent Bridge. Jamie Smith’s slog against Mitchell Santner ended in the hands of a diving Nathan Smith, running in from long-on. That was not just the end of the third Test. It was also the end…
Read More “Bazball Ends: How Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum changed Test cricket” »
It was 25 years ago that Mark Butcher scored a monumental 173 not out in England’s successful chase against Australia in the Headingley Test. He scored seven other Test hundreds, some of them against the most fearsome attacks. He is now a popular commentator and sharp analyst of the game. Excerpts from Butcher’s exclusive interview…
Giving due credit: Brook was vocal about McCullum’s contribution as a Test coach. | Photo Credit: AP England’s white-ball captain Harry Brook can be considered the best embodiment of Brendon McCullum’s aggressive ‘Bazball’ approach. The Kiwi’s sacking as England’s Test coach has visibly shaken Brook. “He has played a massive part in my career,” Brook said after the…
Read More “ENG vs. IND ODIs | We are in the results business and have to win games, says Brook” »
England’s Ben Stokes | Photo Credit: Action Images via Reuters It is one of cricket’s ironies that players welcome captaincy despite knowing that the chances of escaping its psychological and physical damage are low. Great captains are often those who hide their trauma well. Even those who enjoy the job and have a profound effect…
Read More “The captain is the focal point of pressure; he always feels the heat” »
It is one of cricket’s ironies that players welcome captaincy despite knowing that the chances of escaping its psychological and physical damage are low. Great captains are often those who hide their trauma well. Even those who enjoy the job and have a profound effect on the game reach a point when the ‘honour’ doesn’t…
Read More “The captain is the focal point of pressure; he always feels the heat” »
If Bazball is dead — and obituaries are being written furiously —– it would be a pity. England didn’t invent the attacking, free flowing style nor are they the first team to display a passion for the game that seems to go beyond victory and defeat. The great West Indies teams of the past played…
Read More “Bazball is worth saving — a call England must make despite losses” »
England coach Brendon ‘Baz’ McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes see cricket as entertainment, feel they owe something to the spectators | Photo Credit: Gareth Copley If Bazball is dead — and obituaries are being written furiously — it would be a pity. England didn’t invent the attacking, free-flowing style, nor are they the first team…
Read More “Bazball is worth saving — a call England must make despite losses” »
Former England captain Michael Vaughan. File | Photo Credit: Getty Images Former skipper Michael Vaughan fears not all England players have fully adapted to the existing team culture and feels the backroom staff is “made up of cheerleaders”. Vaughan suggested England must carry out an honest review of their 1-4 mauling in India by taking…
Read More “I do worry it’s a backroom team made up of cheerleaders: Vaughan” »
India’s captain Rohit Sharma. | Photo Credit: PTI A relaxed Rohit Sharma, with the series in the bag, was at his candid best as he reflected on the four Tests so far. He termed it “a series of comebacks” for his triumphant team. Rohit went on to admit that he did not know what Bazball…
Read More “IND vs ENG fifth Test | I don’t know what Bazball means: Rohit” »