Opinion
A year ago, Jonny Bairstow strode out to bat at Trent Bridge, and bludgeoned 136 in little over a session that left, the then, world Test champions, New Zealand, reeling. Bairstow’s innings exemplified the new attacking style of play the England Test team insisted they intended develop.
And in doing so, he became a national hero overnight and scored bags of runs across the rest of the summer.
As an Aussie living in the UK, it was a treat to simply sit back and witness the rise of Bazball and the summer of aggressive, skilful and very entertaining test cricket followed.
New England coach, Brendon ‘Baz’ McCullum, may not be not a fan of the name but he is pleased his players clearly relish the attacking approach to Test cricket that was born in the fallout of England’s 4 – 0 drubbing in Australia.
Change was swift after the Ashes embarrassment with the appointment of Rob Key as managing director of men’s cricket, Ben Stokes as captain and Brendon McCullum as coach.
All three were soon outlining a long-term vision where entertainment was significant in the future of the five-day format and results would take care of themselves.
Crucially, if players enjoyed their cricket, they would eliminate the crippling fear of failure that had produced one win in the last seventeen Tests.
Stokes was so committed to the cause he incessantly charged down the wicket to slog the Kiwi bowlers to the boundary throughout the in the first two Tests of the English summer.
It was bizarre behaviour from the new captain who did little more than throw away his wicket cheaply. Fans and commentators might have been bewildered by his repeated cavalier approach but the players soon learnt they would not be punished for aggressively taking the game to the opposition.
With little fear of reprimands, the players stepped up and the cricket that followed was delightful to watch. The home crowds were singing and the scalps kept falling as the exciting cricket was too much for India and South Africa.
England’s Joe Root celebrates reaching his century. (Photo by Mike Egerton/PA Images via Getty Images)
India had returned for a one-off Test after failing to complete their five-match series the previous summer. Officially the Indians had cited a COVID outbreak for abandoning the tour but they were fortunate enough to have flown out in time to complete quarantine in the UAE for a COVID rescheduled IPL.
Cricket fans were outraged at the intrusion of franchise cricket into the international test schedule and with further impact virtually unavoidable, Bazball is in part and attempt to increase the appeal of Test cricket in a world now dominated by short format and franchise cricket.
We might love the intricacies of the five-day format but it’s time to admit a whole new generation are drawn to in-your-face thrills of T20.
The turnaround in the team’s fortunes was stirring to watch as they went on to win 11 out of the next 14 under Stokes’ captaincy, losing some by the barest of margins, like the one run thriller in Wellington and the two-wicket loss at Edgbaston where Pat Cummins spectacularly steered his side home.
Commentators like Mark Taylor and Ricky Ponting, had missed the heroics of the previous twelve months but praised the new approach for its entertaining cricket that had Australia under the pump until the very end of the fifth day.
England aren’t the shambles that departed Australian shores in 2022. Stokes is a brilliant tactician and his field placings always look to put pressure back on batters with a team now confident enough to play to their strengths.
They still have issues that need ironing out and the loss of Jack Leach to injury was a major blow
The Aussies are the newly crowned World Test Champions. They deserve the title with a capable and settled team that can absorb pressure and win games.
However, it fair to say they spent much of the first test playing catch up to an England side that was always looking to move the game forward.
The next four tests are sure to throw up plenty more curve balls and winning the Ashes won’t be as easy as many people back home think.
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