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England’s team was in turmoil before the summer of 2022. Nothing was going well for the European team in the longest format of the game. From February 2021 to April 2022, England lost series against India, New Zealand, Australia, and West Indies. That was when the coaching and leadership staff of England was changed in the longest format of the game.
Brendon McCullum was appointed the head coach of the English team. Ben Stokes replaced Joe Root as the captain of the English Test team. The duo promised a lot of things. Some of them include Playing fearless cricket, Changing the way test cricket is played, bringing back the audience to watch Test cricket, backing players irrespective of the results, and so on.
The new approach of the English team under the duo was termed ‘Bazball’. From June 2022 to July 2022 (and till January 2024), England has not lost a Test series. Under the leadership of Stokes, England won the series against New Zealand 3-0, Won the series against South Africa 2-1, Whitewashed Pakistan in Pakistan 3-0, Drew against New Zealand 1-1, and Drew against Australia 2-2.
In the latest Ashes series, England was trailing 0-2 in the series. From there, the home side went on to draw the series without losing a match. Without a doubt, the English side is a transformed one under Stokes and McCullum. Their biggest challenge yet would be against India when they tour the subcontinent in 2024. India has not lost a Test series since 2012/13, which also came against England. Only England and Australia (In 2005) have won a Test series in India in the 21st century.
Speaking about the challenge of Bazball against India, Nasser Hussain gave his opinions. The former English captain said “The next challenge for Bazball is India and everyone knows India in India is one of the sternest challenges in Tests. Bazball against Ashwin, Jadeja, and Axar and that is going to be fascinating” and weighed the importance of the series.
Here’s how the fans reacted to Nasser Hussain’s comments:
We are the bilateral kings 🤣🤣🤣🤣 if it is WTC then only we can lose
— Abhijeet Bulbule (@BulbuleAbhijeet) August 3, 2023
easy win for England 🏴
— VINIT (@Winitt18) August 3, 2023
Pitch ko aise ghuma do ke 200 se aage bdh na paye ye 😭
— Zayn (@pant_peak) August 3, 2023
India will win because it's bilateral series 🤡
— Ayush (@Ayush_123987) August 3, 2023
It's going to be hard. They can win one test like they did last time in Chennai on a flat top. India won't do tat mistake, by preparing a flat picth
— kannan parthiban (@kannanparthiba3) August 3, 2023
https://twitter.com/BhootMDB666/status/1687047353432494080?s=20
Now it's time for dustball
— Vikram (@yaang_022) August 3, 2023
Ash Anna will be there ,no matter what pic.twitter.com/EOjfCVgTPL
— Adityaraj (@Adityaraj1920) August 3, 2023
Two world class and one very good ( who if was English would be in every test team …. And bats like Baz Ball )
— John Wright (@johnwright15) August 3, 2023
This guy is the one who said Babar Azam has the best cover drive , now he sneaked in Axar 😭
— User45 (@140of113) August 3, 2023
