The Bazball approach, characterized by an aggressive and positive style of play, has faced significant challenges during England’s tour of India. Despite its intent to change the game’s dynamics, England’s batting collapses have persisted, reminiscent of past English teams touring India.
In each of their five innings so far, England has experienced significant collapses. They went from 121/3 to 193/8 and 113/1 to 163/5 in Hyderabad, and 114/1 to 182/7 & 95/1 to 220/7 in Visakhapatnam. The trend continued in Rajkot, where they went from 224/2 to 319 all out, conceding a 126-run lead to India.
One of the defining moments of Bazball’s struggles was Joe Root’s dismissal, attempting a reverse scoop that ended up as a catch in the slips. This shot, once successful for Root and England, has now come under heavy criticism, with The Telegraph calling it “the worst, most stupid shot in the history of England’s Test cricket.”
Despite the criticism, Ben Duckett defended Root’s shot selection, pointing out its past success and suggesting it may work in the future. However, England’s collapses have continued, highlighting the challenges of implementing Bazball in India.
While it’s premature to label Bazball a failure in India, England’s struggles with batting collapses suggest that the ultra-aggressive approach has not been entirely successful. India’s ability to exploit England’s vulnerabilities underscores the challenges of playing Bazball against quality opposition.
