England’s ‘Bazball’ gets ultimate test against newly crowned Test champion

Associated Press

Birmingham: The Ashes the most famous test cricket series of them all is here once again and the five matches between England and Australia could be among the wildest since the first one was played in 1882. Under captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, whose nickname is “Baz,” England has gone all-out attack and won 12 of its last 17 tests.

Always chasing a win even at the risk of losing England has not been defeated in a series over the past year. It’s a remarkable turnaround in form for a national team which had won just one of its previous 17 tests before the Stokes-McCullum partnership was formed. It has reached the stage where England’s players will chase quick runs and fast wickets or adopt aggressive field placings whether they’re playing a cricket minnow or the world champion.

In Australia, they are taking on just that: The newly crowned world test champion. And the message from the Australians, who beat India in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s on Sunday? Bring it on. “I said it initially when Bazball’ started, that I’m intrigued to see how it goes against our bowlers,” Australia batter Steve Smith said.

“They’ve obviously done well against some other attacks but they haven’t come up against us yet. It’s been exciting to watch, I’ve enjoyed watching the way they’ve played and the way they’ve turned things around in the last 12 months, but we’ll wait and see how it comes off against us.”

“As captain, I’m not going to be chewing people out in press conferences or in the media for trying to play a big shot,” Stokes said in a column in “The Players’ Tribune.” “I really want boards across the world to get their heads around this, which they seem to be having a hard time doing,” Stokes added.

“Rather than fight against it, we need to embrace it. Yes, we may lose a few talented players along the way, but the best way to keep test cricket alive and at the pinnacle of the sport is to work harder to show players something that excites them and inspires them.” Starting Friday at Birmingham’s Edgbaston ground, which is known for its soccer-style atmosphere, the series will likely be much closer than the last when Australia as host demolished England 4-0 in 2021-22.

England

England’s exciting batting lineup has been strengthened by the return from injury of wicketkeeper-batter Jonny Bairstow, who replaces Ben Foakes, and goes extremely deep since Moeen Ali has come out of retirement to cover for injured spinner Jack Leach.

The bowling department has issues, though. Leach’s absence is a huge blow, given he has been England’s go-to spinner for some time, as are injuries to quick bowlers Jofra Archer and Olly Stone.

There are question marks over the fitness of fellow pacers Ollie Robinson and the enduring Anderson. Stuart Broad is unlikely to play every test at age 36 and there remains doubts over Stokes’ ability to bowl as well as bat given his recent ailments.

Australia

Meanwhile, Australia’s bowling resources could hardly be stronger, with Scott Boland a revelation since his test debut in the last Ashes series adding to a stock of fast bowlers containing captain Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.

Hazlewood should be fit for the start of the Ashes despite a side injury sustained in the Indian Premier League, but maybe there’s no need to rush him back given Boland’s form. In Mar nus Labuschagne and Smith, Australia has two of the top three batters in the world test rankings and Travis Head appears able to play “Bazball” as well as England. David Warner will hope to do better against Broad, who dismissed the left-handed opener seven times in 10 innings in the 2019 Ashes series.