England executed their plan to perfection for three days, before being defied by the rain: Justin Langer

Justin Langer, Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum. (Photo Source: Twitter)

In a thrilling fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, England’s ultra-attacking ‘Bazball’ approach left former Australian opener and head coach Justin Langer in awe. Despite the match ending in a draw due to rain, Langer praised England’s aggressive style of play, believing it has the potential to dismantle even top-quality bowling attacks.

Particularly in the second half of the game when Jonny Bairstow launched his aggressive onslaught, Langer was astounded at how England left the visitors searching for explanations. Langer acknowledged that Australia’s choice to play without a spinner would have made things more difficult for them.

Writing in his column for The Telegraph, Langer expressed:

“That was some of the most awe-inspiring cricket I have seen for a very long time. It was absolutely breathtaking to watch, and proved to me that this style of play could work against the best bowling attack in the world.”

While England’s ‘Bazball‘ approach proved successful in the fourth Test, Langer highlighted that it hadn’t worked as effectively in the first two Tests. He noted,

“What I saw was a team providing moments that take your breath away, and moments of pure recklessness. This time, they executed their plan to perfection for three days, before being defied by the rain.”

Nevertheless, Langer praised England for eliminating the reckless elements from their game and dominating the Aussies, showcasing a well-thought-out strategy and blueprint for success. He firmly believed that such a ruthless approach works against even the best teams, including the World Test Champions.

As the Ashes series came to a conclusion, Langer voiced hope that England’s “Bazballers” would once more perform a miracle. Given that England has a solid home record against Australia and haven’t lost a Test series at home since 2001, the last game at The Oval should be a suitable climax.

Indeed, this Ashes series has been a testament to the sheer brilliance of Test cricket, with both teams displaying outstanding performances. Langer’s observations add to the excitement surrounding the final match, as cricket enthusiasts eagerly await to see if England can claim a victory and provide a memorable conclusion to an already captivating series.