I’m a big fan of attacking cricket, but England and Bazball must evolve

3 months ago 24

Opinion

December 3, 2025 — 5.00am

The Oxford Dictionary describes Bazball as a style of Test cricket where the batting side attempts to gain the initiative by playing in a highly aggressive manner, focusing on scoring quickly and maintaining a positive risk-taking mindset.

This definition encapsulates perfectly the phenomenon that has gripped English cricket, and indeed the world, since Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes took the reins.

England are unlikely to change their approach, led by captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, to this Ashes series after their loss in Perth.

Bazball is a philosophy – a promise of relentless, attacking cricket. It has proved the antidote to timid draws and defensive posturing. It has revitalised the Test format, injected excitement and, crucially for England, returned the emphasis to winning.

The mindset behind Bazball – to play bold, positive, and exciting cricket – need not change. It is the fuel that powers this England team. However, as the harsh realities of the first Test defeat have shown, the execution must evolve. The exhilarating promise of the philosophy can become a reckless gamble if not tempered by discipline and a respect for the fundamentals.

The adjustments England must make are simple, yet profound. There is no need for an overhaul of the team’s core identity. In fact, to change tack now would suit the Australians, as it would show that they have got inside their heads and would probably lead to certain defeat.

Success in any sport is rarely magic; it is a process. It comes from a willingness to do the boring things, the basics, more regularly and more effectively than the opposition.

I am a fervent admirer of positive cricket and champion it at every opportunity. But the concept of a full-frontal assault as an invariant, all-weather game plan is an insult to the intelligence of the players and the public. Bazball is a concept that should be applied when the situation and conditions allow, not a rigid dogma that demands the same action regardless of the circumstances.

The modern game has shifted the balance of power towards the batter. Bats are more forgiving, producing greater distance and velocity - even from mishits. Players are exponentially stronger than in previous eras. Strength training has fundamentally changed the technique of batting.

In my day, mishits rarely got out of the infield. Therefore, moving the feet was paramount to getting into the best possible position, powering the shot from the ground up to maximise centre hits. Batting was a pursuit that was built from the feet up. Now, a player can set a solid, almost static base and rely on upper-body strength and a powerful swing of the arms. Because modern bats reward mishits, the bat is swung harder. This approach is fine on the flat, docile pitches prepared for white-ball cricket. However, it becomes speculation on a challenging wicket.

Somewhere on the journey between Perth and Brisbane, the England batters required an honest conversation. They needed to recognise that while the intent is to score, the method requires more discipline and calculated aggression.

Consistent success in Test cricket is built on doing the basics exceedingly well. Occasionally, an innings of devastating impact – such as Travis Head’s in Perth or Ben Stokes’s miracle at Headingley in 2019 – can do the trick. But day-in, day-out success is not delivered by flashes of brilliance; it is delivered by the discipline of performing the foundational tasks repeatedly.

The eight-wicket result in Perth flattered Australia. A win in Brisbane is no certainty. The Australian batters looked vulnerable against good pace bowling in the first innings and they would have been delirious with Head doing the heavy lifting in the second innings.

England must learn the lessons from Perth quickly and not repeat them. So must Australia. Head’s amazing innings was the only real difference. They can’t rely on that happening again.

The Gabba will present a different challenge. It might not offer the same excessive bounce, but it will be quick, and there will be sideways movement from the seam. Added to that, Australia has a supreme record in day/night encounters and Mitchell Starc is the best pink ball bowler in the world.

Travis Heads’ heroics in Perth was the difference in the first Ashes Test.

The pink ball goes softer more quickly than the traditional red ball. This places a premium on patience. England must find a way to get through the new ball to allow their vaunted middle order the best chance to succeed against the older ball.

For Bazball to flourish, the England players must demonstrate a deep respect for the Australian bowlers, the conditions, and the match situation. Every batter would love to be able to attack every ball. But success lies in being judicious – knowing precisely which balls to attack and which ones to defend or leave.

A modicum of discretion could be the difference between losing another Test or getting the Ashes campaign back on the rails.

Even when the situation demands attack, a batter must keep the odds in their favour. Two crucial elements a batter must learn are the bowler’s rhythm and angle. You must get into that rhythm as quickly as possible, understand the angles, and identify which are the likely boundary shots. Once this is established, you should play each ball on its merit. Taking unrealistic risks is gambling, and in cricket, as in the casino, the house generally wins.

In Australian conditions, the hardest thing to do is drive the ball on the rise. The bowlers need to bowl the majority of deliveries on a full length to force the batsman to run the odds.

The bouncer is an effective tactic to intimidate and keep the batter back in the crease, but the back-of-a-length strategy allows the batter room to score square of the wicket, as Head did in Perth.

If I were in the Australian camp, I would back Head to open. This allows Beau Webster to play, providing a full house of batters and bowlers, while maintaining the crucial balance of having Nathan Lyon in the attack. If the ball seams, it usually spins. Australia will go in with an unchanged attack while Will Jacks, a batting allrounder who bowls part-time off spin, will replace the injured Mark Wood for England.

According to the Oxford Dictionary, Bazball is recognised as more than just a style of play; it is a cultural and psychological shift that injected aggression and a winning attitude into English Test cricket.

The cultural and psychological shift is complete. The aggression and win-or-bust attitude are present. Now, the England team must refine the ‘style of play’, ensuring their winning intention is matched by faultless execution, proving Bazball is not just an attitude, but a sustainable path to success in a series that is wide open.