Bazball – Artifex.News

Bazball is worth saving — a call England must make despite losses

admin — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 19:17:00 +0000

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 cricket with similar enthusiasm, each player expressing himself.

However, Bazball seems un-English in the land of Geoff Boycott and Alastair Cooke, defensive batters of great skill but all too aware that cricket was livelihood and caution mattered above all.

Skipper Ben Stokes and coach Brendon ‘Baz’ McCullum see cricket as entertainment, feel they owe something to the spectators, thoughts that would not have occurred to earlier generations. It probably helped that they were both born in New Zealand, the land of bungee-jumping and zorbing where it is difficult to take sports too seriously.

According to Michael Brearley, England’s high priest as successful captain and psychoanalyst, Bazball was born out of depression. Stokes came through a court case (for affray), the death of his father and injury while McCullum, who had lost interest in the game at one time was keen on players re-discovering the simple joys of playing it. An awareness that asked, like Eliot, “Where is the life we have lost in living?”

Working brilliantly

In Bazball, players “ran towards the danger”; failure didn’t mean excommunication. It has succeeded in its three and a half years now despite the skepticism of those who believed it was all a con. Opponents couldn’t put a finger on what Bazball was, and sometimes neither could England. But it worked brilliantly, with England winning Tests with fabulous fourth-innings chases against Pakistan, New Zealand, India. The sight of Joe Root reverse scooping fast bowlers for six seemed to give Bazball the final stamp of approval from one of the greats who swore by established technique.

Perhaps Bazball is best enjoyed by those who have no skin in the game. It is glorious cricket for those outside England who are not so invested in the result. Would an Indian batter be forgiven for getting out repeatedly because he kept making the same mistake although on other occasions the identical shot fetched tons of runs and encomiums?

To enjoy, even encourage an approach when it works but call it ‘stupid’ when it fails is bad faith.

And now Bazball is teetering. England’s approach in the Ashes series — it has taken Australia less than six playing days to go two-up — has seen to that. It hasn’t helped that while England ignored some of the traditional methods of preparing, like playing matches, McCullum has spoken of the team’s ‘over-preparation’ that led to the defeats. For a coach who rejects theories, that might be a theory too far.

In the day-night Test at Brisbane, England lost 15 wickets to balls that could have been left alone. Bazball has given batters like the hugely talented Harry Brook a leeway that was denied someone like David Gower in his time. Gower, who failed the same way he succeeded often paid for the failure. Brook, like his team, knows there is a lack of consequence now. This belief can be heady. Entertaining and reviving Test cricket is all fine, the home critics say, but the essence of competition is victory. A dull win for many is preferable to an exciting loss.

Make a choice

McCullum and Stokes have to make a choice. It is easy to stick to a philosophy when it’s working. When it isn’t, do you continue to put your faith in it, or tweak it so the players whose game isn’t suited to it — Ollie Pope is a good example — are given the leeway to play in the manner they are most comfortable with? My way or the highway? Or unity in diversity? India’s two series wins in Australia were founded on the latter. As Brearley pointed out years ago, a cricket team works by dint of differentiation, the skills and temperaments diverse. Not like a rowing team where everyone moves the same way.

Bazball has brought a freshness to contemporary cricket, and revealed greater possibilities. To throw it in the fireplace now and leave the Ashes in Australia would be a shame.

Published – December 10, 2025 12:47 am IST

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Bazball is worth saving — a call England must make despite losses

admin — Tue, 09 Dec 2025 19:17:00 +0000

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 to display a passion for the game that seems to go beyond victory and defeat. The great West Indies teams of the past played cricket with similar enthusiasm, each player expressing himself.

However, Bazball seems un-English in the land of Geoff Boycott and Alastair Cook, defensive batters of great skill but all too aware that cricket was livelihood and caution mattered above all.

According to Michael Brearley, England’s high priest as successful captain and psychoanalyst, Bazball was born out of depression. Stokes came through a court case (for affray), the death of his father and injury, while McCullum, who had lost interest in the game at one time, was keen on players rediscovering the simple joys of playing it. An awareness that asked, like Eliot, “Where is the life we have lost in living?”

Working brilliantly

In Bazball, players “ran towards the danger”; failure didn’t mean excommunication. It has succeeded in its three and a half years now despite the scepticism of those who believed it was all a con. Opponents couldn’t put a finger on what Bazball was, and sometimes neither could England. But it worked brilliantly, with England winning Tests with fabulous fourth-innings chases against Pakistan, New Zealand and India. The sight of Joe Root reverse scooping fast bowlers for six seemed to give Bazball the final stamp of approval from one of the greats who swore by established technique.

Perhaps Bazball is best enjoyed by those who have no skin in the game. It is glorious cricket for those outside England who are not so invested in the result. Would an Indian batter be forgiven for getting out repeatedly because he kept making the same mistake, although on other occasions the identical shot fetched tons of runs and encomiums?

To enjoy, even encourage an approach when it works but call it ‘stupid’ when it fails is bad faith.

Make a choice

Bazball has brought a freshness to contemporary cricket, and revealed greater possibilities. To throw it in the fireplace now and leave the Ashes in Australia would be a shame.

Published – December 10, 2025 12:47 am IST

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I do worry it’s a backroom team made up of cheerleaders: Vaughan

admin — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 21:32:00 +0000

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 a leaf out of Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola’s book to breed an environment of ruthlessness.

India completed a magnificent series triumph with an innings and 64-run victory inside three days in the fifth and final Test here on Saturday.

“After a humbling series defeat in India, I strongly believe that a dose of honesty is the most important thing for this England team right now,” Vaughan wrote in his column for Daily Telegraph.

Vaughan, who led the Test team from 2003-08, added, “I don’t believe they need to rip everything up. They are better playing this way than they would be otherwise.

“I respect what they are trying to do, and get up early every day to watch them because they have me on the edge of my seat and I know something is going to happen.

“The great frustration is that they have the talent to be really competitive all over the world but they have blown two big series and in this case it was because their batting failed miserably.” Accusing the team management of going too soft on players, Vaughan said he understands that there is a pervading sense of positivity, fun and laughter in the camp but that may not always bring the desired results.

“Every interview you hear the same stuff, about excitement, opportunity and fun, that everyone is having the time of their life.

“I have been around many of them in the last couple of years and their language can be inspiring. I admire some of it, but I can be a bit of an old cynic, and I worry that they are speaking a language that not all of them truly believe, which is dangerous.

“Certain players will believe it, but not everyone. We can’t all think the same.” He added, “Victories are what keep the fun bus on the road, not endlessly talking about how much fun you are having.

“The truth is that this can’t always be fun, because it’s so hard. Positivity is good, and inspiring, but honesty is also required.”

Vaughan said those running the team must not shy away from taking tough calls and for that, they don’t need to look beyond Guardiola.

“The team message is never to doubt anything, never admit they were wrong or they could have done things differently. Everything is very cosy. Everyone is mates: players, coaches, backroom staff. That does not breed an environment of ruthlessness.

“I know I bang on about how brilliant Pep Guardiola is, but you don’t hear about him being mates with Manchester City players. He’s their boss and he doesn’t always do what his players want him to.” “He makes ruthless decisions about selection and training regimes.”

Vaughan was least amused with the English players spending time in Abu Dhabi and playing golf in Bengaluru when there were long breaks between Tests.

“England’s management give the players just about everything that they want, like a break in Abu Dhabi with no cricket kit and a golf trip to Bangalore in the middle of the tour.

“I am not one for old-school preparation, with three first-class matches at the start of a tour. Those days are gone, and it’s not needed. But surely with two long breaks, you need to get some cricket into the outside of the team, so they are ready if required, and to keep those in the XI on their toes.

“It also might help players in the team find form. By doing nothing, you get yourself into a Catch 22.”

He added, “I do worry it’s a backroom team made up of cheerleaders. That’s based on what I hear in public, and maybe it’s different in the changing room, but players need challenging and questioning at times.”

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IND vs ENG fifth Test | I don’t know what Bazball means: Rohit

admin — Wed, 06 Mar 2024 19:47:15 +0000

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 meant. The India skipper was at his witty best on Wednesday.

When reminded of England opener Ben Duckett’s view that some of the Indian batters could be influenced by the Bazball, Rohit said: “There was this guy called Rishabh Pant in our team… probably, Ben Duckett hasn’t seen him bat.”

On the eve of the final Test, Rohit spoke about the lessons learnt.

“I didn’t study much in school but I do study the opposition a lot while playing cricket. I enjoy that process of learning as a batter and captain. Ahead of any series, I have always tried to understand both teams and plan accordingly. I have multiple duties. Firstly, I am a batter. If I get out, I need to plan who to promote up the order. On the field, it’s about gauging the wicket according to our bowling strength.

“This is a series of comebacks and we made good comebacks, from being down in one session to dominating the next. After losing the first Test, despite being ahead in the game, we absorbed pressure and put it back on the opposition.

“This has been satisfying, especially with a group of boys who have not been under such pressure. International cricket pressure is different and Test cricket is totally different. A lot of players handled it well, stabilised the team and put it ahead. The last Test was a perfect example of our good comebacks.”

Rohit’s take on Bazball was also candid. “I honestly don’t know what Bazball means — whether it is to go and strike, whether it’s to defend or wait for a loose ball. I haven’t seen wild swings from anyone. England have played better cricket than the last series that they played here. You got to give credit to their batters who got big hundreds here. They applied their methods to get success and they got it.

“I still don’t know what that (Bazball) means.”

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