‘When you try and attack every ball, you will falter’ – Ravichandran Ashwin’s honest assessment of England’s Bazball approach

England. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

Under the management of former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum, England have adopted a more aggressive style of play in the Test format which has handed them wins on a consistent basis. However, veteran India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has opined that the English team will totter at some point while playing the attacking approach.

 

Ever since Brendon McCullum’s induction into the side as the red ball team’s head coach, England have emerged as a force to reckon with. Under his mentorship and Ben Stokes’ leadership, team England have been doing brilliantly and have won multiple games, thereby showcasing their dominance in the longest format.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin claimed that the new approach adopted by the English team under McCullum will be tested in every condition and will ‘falter’ at some point.

 

“We now have a concept called Bazball. England is playing high-paced Test match cricket. They want to play a certain style of cricket. But in certain types of wickets, when you try and attack every ball, you will falter. There are both advantages and disadvantages to this approach,” Ashwin said.

 

Conditions need to be respected: Ravichandran Ashwin

 

Notably, Ben Stokes and Co. have won 11 matches in their last 15 outings with their most recent win coming against New Zealand in the ongoing two-match series. England outright dominated the Kiwis and emerged victorious by 267 runs in the first Test.

 

However, the side is yet to play in India where their new approach will be put to test in Indian conditions. Ashwin further added that the pitch conditions will need to be ‘respected’ and the game needs to be played accordingly instead of having a linear approach.

 

“Some will ask instead of defending and getting all out for 100, I will slog it out and get all out for 140. We will only know when the game pans out that the approach works or not. Sometimes, on the wicket, conditions need to be respected. If you respect the pitch and play accordingly, the pitch will also respect you. If you respect the pitch, it will pay you dividends,” he added.

 

England are currently in the midst of the second Test match against the BlackCaps and are close to clinching a series whitewash at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.