Former England captains have criticized the team’s aggressive approach, dubbed ‘Bazball’, following their heavy defeat to India in the third Test. England lost by 434 runs in Rajkot, going 2-1 down in the series, prompting questions about their attacking strategy under skipper Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon ‘Baz’ McCullum.
“This England team are hell bent on doing things their way, and ‘saving Test cricket’. They are giving Test cricket a shot in the arm because they are so exciting,” Michael Vaughan wrote in Britain’s Daily Telegraph.
“But ultimately they have to be better than that now. They didn’t win in New Zealand, they didn’t win the Ashes, and if they carry on like this, they are going to lose in India. As a team, you are judged on series victories.”
Michael Atherton, in the Times, questioned England’s decision-making, citing opener Ben Duckett’s unrealistic comments about the team’s chances in the match. Atherton criticized England for wastefulness and suggested they lacked a strategic approach, particularly in managing their resources.
“One can admire the positivity and playfulness of Ben Duckett and this England team — such were his comments on the third evening — while also questioning their occasional self-delusion,” Atherton wrote.
“Careful husbandry of resources is not the Bazball way. They have been profligate in the extreme in this match, wasting a golden opportunity to build on Duckett’s brilliant second-day hundred and to achieve parity or more on first innings.
“They were forced to take some bitter medicine as a consequence on a stifling and totally demoralising fourth day in Rajkot.”
Nasser Hussain, in the Daily Mail, called for England to learn from their mistakes and make necessary adjustments to their game plan. He urged the team to review their recent performances and consider how they can improve, without completely abandoning their aggressive style of play.
“If England don’t consider tweaks, Bazball just becomes a cult that can’t be questioned,” he added. “I am not asking them to alter their mantra, just to review the last couple of matches and ask themselves: ‘how can we improve?'”
The criticism comes as England faces the challenge of leveling the series in the remaining matches against India, with the fourth Test set to begin in Ranchi on Friday, February 23.
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