Steve Waugh asks whether the Bazball strategy is the right approach for England ahead of 2023
England have had a run rate of 4.85 in 2022 in Test cricket.
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Jun 12, 2023 3:32 pm
Steve Waugh and England Test Team (Source: Twitter)
They England team have had a great time in Test cricket up to the Ashes. The recorded a big 3-0 series win over Pakistan away from home. When this method was made famous under Brendon McCullum, they beat New Zealand at home in 2021 and also beat Indian in the fourth Test which was rescheduled to put the series on parity at 2-2. The Bazball style refers to the attacking style of play.
Talking more about Bazball, England have drawn up some impressive statistics using the method. The Three Lions have maintained an impressive run rate of 4.85 over the last year in Test cricket. Their top five batters always have batted with freedom and have a strike rate of 75. Australia and England will face of against each other at the Ashes. Steve Waugh spoke on Bazball and gave an impressive observation asking what England’s fallback approach would be in case Bazball fails.
Will Bazball be played under challenging conditions? -Steve Waugh
“That is the big question mark over so-called Bazball. What is Plan B? Have they got a Plan B,” Waugh raised the question. The last Ashes series was played in 2022 in Australia where Australia retained the urn after the series. The battle for the prized urn will take place yet again but this time it will be in England.
Further expanding his views on the issue, Steve Waugh stated, “Australia’s former Test captain questioned. If they haven’t then they are going to be found out. They have shown they are good enough to carry this style of cricket off but the ultimate test will be against a world-class bowling attack, which Australia has got. It is exciting but to me the jury is out at the moment. Does [Bazball] hold up under scrutiny against a really good bowling attack in maybe challenging conditions?”.
Ahead of the Ashes Ben Stokes had talked about England having no fear and playing with freedom in what will be an intense battle with England and Australia. He said that the pressure will be higher on the players as they will be playing in an Ashes series. The 2023 Ashes series is scheduled to begin on June 16.
