‘Only time will tell’ – Ben Stokes on Bazball’s effectiveness in spin-friendly conditions against India

Ben Stokes Press Conference. (Photo Source : Gettyimages)

Ahead of the recently concluded Ashes 2023, there were doubts regarding England’s approach in the longest format of the game. Under the management of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, the Three Lions have played an attacking brand of cricket, but against a formidable Australian side, it was expected to get tougher. It did in the first two matches of the series, but as the series progressed, England showcased Bazball’s potential, winning two of the last three Tests.

Overall, the team has won 14 out of 18 matches under the new management, and thus, there’s no doubt about the success they have enjoyed so far. However, fresh doubts have emerged about whether their Bazball revolution will work in India. The pitches in the subcontinent tend to assist the spinners, and thus, England might struggle to play the same brand of cricket that they have been playing for so long.

Speaking about the same, Stokes mentioned that people had their doubts about Bazball before the New Zealand series, the Pakistan series and also ahead of the Australia series, but they have proved everyone wrong. Thus, the skipper is backing the same formula and stated that only time will tell if it will work in India.

“I remember when we beat New Zealand 3-0, (the chatter) was we couldn’t do it against South Africa, (we) couldn’t do it against Pakistan, (we) couldn’t do it against Australia. So who knows if we can do it against India, only time will tell,” Stokes said after the 5th Test at The Oval in London.

Notably, England will travel to India for a five-match series for the first time in January 2024. Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Rajkot, Ranchi and Dharamsala will host the respective matches as they will not have the opportunity to host upcoming ODI World Cup matches, which are slated to begin on October 5. Meanwhile, except for Dharamshala, all the pitches primarily support spinners, and thus England might find it difficult to get going. However, an optimistic Ben Stokes is ready to take the challenge and introduce Bazball to India.