Photo by Mohammed Al-Emran on Unsplash
‘Bazball’ has sought to dispel the idea that statistics tell the whole story about a team’s legacy, with entertainment being at the forefront of England’s red-ball reset. But as a lean 2023 came and went, followed by an abject beginning to 2024 in India, ‘Bazball’ was demonstrating a divisiveness within the cricketing community for the first time
In ‘Part 1’ of this 4-part feature series I looked back at what led to ‘Bazball’, highlighting the shortcomings that may have manifested during Joe Root’s captaincy reign and where England Men’s Test cricket was positioned at the start of 2022.
The appointment of Robert Key as new managing director suggested a different direction for the Men’s Test team. This was hammered home with the announcement of Brendon ‘Baz’ McCullum as head coach. The only thing that was left was to decide who would captain the Test team. When Ben Stokes was confirmed to be Joe Root’s successor it was clear Test cricket in England was going to be unlike anything the English public had seen before.
In ‘Part 2’, I will look to interrogate some of the numbers behind ‘Bazball’ to see how things have stacked up so far.
‘Bazball’ prides itself on embracing entertainment. The phrase ‘here for a good time, not for a long time’ springs to mind. But with losses having now accumulated, should there be a greater focus on outcome?
To entertain, or not to entertain
A consistent narrative that has been delivered to the fans in player interviews, press conferences, and even by some of the English commentariat, is that this team wants to entertain and make Test cricket watchable again. This was summed up by Harry Brook in July 2023 where he stated, “We’re not focussed on winning as a side, we’re focussed on making people enjoy watching and bringing Test cricket alive again.”
While this is an admirable cause, will fans of the England Test team truly be content watching their team entertain, but not win, purely because of a stubborn attachment to a new dogma?
The thing that draws different people to cricket can be subjective and, at times, abstract. Almost as abstract as the concept of ‘Bazball’.
But regardless of the intangible qualities that arouse feelings of joy and attachment to a sport, its players and teams will inevitably be venerated or forgotten based on, in large part, the tangible success they have had. In other words, how much they won, where they won, and when they won.
Stokes’ captaincy numbers are unparalleled among England’s best and on par with some of Test cricket’s greatest
At the point of writing this piece before the start of the home series against Sri Lanka, England’s record after 26 completed Test matches under Stokes and McCullum stands as follows:
- Won: 17
- Lost: 8
- Drawn: 1
This yields an exceptional win percentage of 65.4%.
To put this into context, Steve Waugh, Test cricket’s most successful captain, boasted a win percentage of 71.9% with 41 wins from 57 matches. Sir Don Bradman and Ricky Ponting, who have been long standing holders of the second and third spots on the list, won 62.5% (15 wins from 24 Tests) and 62.3% (48 wins from 77 Tests) of their games as skipper, respectively.
We must remember that, unlike for Stokes, the returns for Waugh, Bradman, and Ponting are over an entire captaincy tenure. Nonetheless, these numbers help to provide a broad indicator of how Stokes has gone so far, particularly given the hype surrounding ‘Bazball’.
Furthermore, 26 Tests as captain is somewhat of a moderate sample size in this day and age given the high volume of cricket that is played by the modern cricketer. Stokes’ teammate and predecessor, Joe Root, captained in 64 Tests while his contemporary, Virat Kohli, captained India in 68 Tests (winning 40 of them). So it will be interesting to see if Stokes is able to maintain this trajectory as time goes on.
From a Team England standpoint, Stokes’ win percentage of 65.4% is currently higher than all other England captains of the 21st century, including the much revered Michael Vaughan (51.0%) who co-masterminded England’s monumental 2005 Ashes series win with then-coach, Duncan Fletcher (Figure 1).
Stokes’ win percentage also exceeds Andrew Strauss’ (48.0%), the man who led a formidable England side to number 1 in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings alongside Andy Flower for the first, and so far only time, in 2011.
People may have strong personal opinions about ‘Bazball’ as a concept. But I personally think it is undeniable that, at least by these specific numbers, there has been merit in whatever Stokes and McCullum have set out to do – especially given where England were before the summer of 2022 where they had only won 1 in 17 Tests.
Figure 1. The captaincy records of the England Men’s Test captains in the 21st century before Ben Stokes and ‘Bazball’
The recent reality of ‘Bazball’ by the numbers, and not by the 'vibe'
There is no question that, overall, Ben Stokes has tasted considerable success in his short time as captain. But a spate of recent losses leading into the home series against the West Indies has tarnished the explosive start ‘Bazball’ had.
They have also raised eyebrows about its sustainability. That is, the current version of ‘Bazball’.
For a quick snapshot, here is a summary of the recent hardships faced by ‘Bazball’ (NOTE: these numbers have been taken at the conclusion of the home series against the West Indies in July 2024 and before the start of the home series against Sri Lanka in August 2024):
- 6 of their 8 total losses have come in their last 13 Tests
- In the summer of 2023, Stokes’ team drew 2-2 against Australia and became just the second England side since 2001 to fail to win a home Ashes series
- England then lost their next series 4-1 away to India in early 2024
- In the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-2025 cycle, the first full cycle in which Stokes and McCullum have been in charge, England sits number 7, with 6 wins (and 1 draw) from 13 Tests
There is also the slight caveat that, as of 18 August 2024, England have had 19 points deducted due to slow over rates. Some fans will argue that if these points were not deducted (due to their non-correlation to a team’s fundamental skill level) then England would certainly be higher in the table.
But excluding the ‘ifs’, ‘buts’, and ‘maybes’, the bottom line is that England have found themselves towards the middle and bottom of the table for a reasonable period of time now.
Did the 19-month dry spell between series wins against a major Test-playing nation tarnish the reputation of 'Bazball', or was it all part of the journey?
Most worryingly though was the fact that, until the aforementioned series win at home against the West Indies in July 2024, England’s last series win against a major Test-playing nation came against Pakistan (in Pakistan) back in December 2022.
The series win in Pakistan was nothing short of incredible, especially in an era where touring teams have regularly succumbed to foreign conditions. Stokes’ tactical moves in the field, which have underpinned ‘Bazball’ from the bowling and fielding standpoint, were substantial in helping England win 3-0 in Pakistan on wickets that offered very little to the bowlers.
Nevertheless, regardless of how phenomenal and resounding an accomplishment this was without a shadow of doubt, this series win came in the same year ‘Bazball’ first started back in 2022.
This meant that, aside from a one-off Test win against Ireland in June 2023, it had been 19 months since England last won a fully fledged series against a major Test nation before their home series win against the West Indies in July 2024. During this 19-month dry spell, England had 3 major series against New Zealand (drawn 1-1 away), Australia (drawn 2-2 at home), and India (lost 4-1 away) (Figure 2).
Figure 2. A timeline of ‘Bazball’s Test record from June 2022 to July 2024
So while it started with a resounding bang, it would be fair to say that ‘Bazball’ has hit some sort of a wall for the first time which has prompted the side to self-reflect.
In particular, ‘Bazball’ has been unable to bulldoze the so-called ‘stronger’, more settled, and more experienced teams; this has especially been the case among the teams that have competed against ‘Bazball’ for a second time and with learnings from their first encounter.
For all the talk of how ‘Bazball’ has revolutionised the Test game, in recent series it is fair to say Stokes’ men have struggled to capture the magic that first entranced fans across the country.
With everything we have seen thus far from Stokes and his team, this England side can very easily turn things around. And if they do it, it will probably turn around quickly in true ‘Bazball’ fashion. But until that happens the spotlight will be on Stokes, McCullum, and specifically their unique approach to Test cricket.
For a team that plays more Tests than any other country, should these recent losses be a cause for concern for the fans?
It is tough to say right now as ‘Bazball’ deserves a chance to learn and evolve just as their opposition has had.
Perhaps by the end of the WTC 2023-2025 cycle we will have a better idea. If not by then, the all important 2025/2026 Ashes series in Australia, England’s final frontier, will certainly give us our best answer yet.
‘Bazball’ cannot simply seek to “entertain” at the expense of standard Test cricket common sense when the situation demands it
The spotlight of criticism on ‘Bazball’ has been harshest on the batting (something that will be the main topic of discussion in ‘Part 3’).
England’s batting has produced mind-melting displays of targeted and collective aggression with record-breaking success, such as scoring 500 in a single day and scoring the joint-fastest team 50 in 4.2 overs in history. At times they have batted at run rates which have resembled cricket video games from the 2000s a lot of us used to play.
And when the going is good it has been near impossible to stop the ‘Bazball’ batting juggernaut, particularly at home. But when things have not always been hot, as was the case during the first half of the 2023 Ashes series or the 2024 series in India, the batting has revealed a tendency to venture into the realm of recklessness at crucial points in a game in which the same mistakes have been made repeatedly.
These brief yet recurring moments of madness with the bat have often cost England games, and in the case of the 2023 Ashes, potentially even the series.
So, is ‘Bazball’ an approach that can develop multiple layers? Or is it simply a one-size-fits-all strategy that seeks to simplify the game to help get the best out of batters who may not be as adept at adapting to different conditions and situations regularly (with the exception of Joe Root, of course)?
Personally, I believe to try and answer this we need to assess the context and arena in which this style of cricket is being played – Test cricket.
Where white ball cricket has required evolving styles to stay ahead of the curve, no single brand of cricket can trump Test cricket's everlasting demands
Test cricket is the only format of the game that has not changed substantially over the years outside of a few key milestones.
Changing the length of a single game from timeless to a maximum of 5 days was the first major change. Then, throughout the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s, uncovered pitches were gradually phased out and pitches would be fully covered. This aimed to standardise pitches across the world.
Much later came the introduction of the ‘Decision Review System’ in 2008, which has increased the number of leg-before-wicket dismissals given in favour of the spin bowlers especially. And perhaps the last major update to Test cricket has been the advent of day-night, pink-ball games since 2015 (though the pink ball does not necessarily impact the core principles of the format, and such games are infrequent).
But aside from these changes, some of which took place nearly 40 years ago, Test cricket has largely remained the same.
This is in contrast to its white ball counterparts where a number of changes have been implemented over the last couple of decades. These include boundaries being brought in to increase 4s and 6s for entertainment value, two balls being used in the 50-over game (which has negated reverse swing and neutered death bowlers), and the obvious boom of T20 cricket and its variants (eg, T10, The Hundred).
Drastic and regular changes to the rules and playing conditions in white ball cricket have forced leaders to develop new methods to remain relevant
Take the 50-over One Day International (ODI) format as an example and the approaches 3 World Cup-winning captains – Ricky Ponting, MS Dhoni, and Eoin Morgan – each adopted to succeed in their respective eras of dominance.
Ponting’s great Australian team laid out a noticeable batting blueprint in the early- to mid-2000s. This generally involved attacking the bowlers in the first 15 overs of fielding restrictions where only 2 fielders were allowed outside of the inner 30-yard circle.
Once out of these first 15 overs, the team would accumulate runs slowly and conserve wickets in the middle overs (16 to 40), before attacking again at the death to sign off with a ferocious flourish in a bid to set a lofty total (if batting 1st) or to win a game as soon as possible (if chasing).
But as the rules in the ODI game began to evolve, so to did the batting template that was established by Ponting’s generational side. In 2005, the ICC revamped and reintroduced these fielding restrictions as blocks, termed ‘Power Plays’, that could be used tactically and dynamically by both the batting and bowling sides.
When MS Dhoni’s India started to emerge as the next superpower in ODI cricket in the late 2000s and early 2010s, they allied talent with their captain’s all-round mastery of strategy, including the tactical use of these ‘Power Play’ blocks.
There are a lot of nitty gritty details with these ‘Power Play’ blocks that I will not go into here. But, given these new rules now encouraged prolonged attacking batsmanship, MS Dhoni’s India was able to take elements of what made Ponting’s team great and improve upon it by capitalising on these ‘Power Play’ blocks to get the most out of India’s batting strengths.
Another rule which came into effect in 2011 was the decision to use 2 different balls (one at either end) per innings. Though not popular among the fast-bowling contingent, this new law went down a treat with the batters.
The use of 2 balls now meant batters could always face a harder ball with less discolouration (meaning they can see it more easily).
Crucially, this also meant the ball would be less prone to reverse swing, providing batters greater comfort when shaping up to play attacking shots in the mid- to late-phases of the innings.
All things taken into consideration, MS Dhoni’s India could attack for longer with the bat and really only accumulate runs if absolutely required or if a player was naturally a more subdued stroke maker. Unlike in the early 2000s, there would be very few dot balls not just in the middle overs, but very few in general.
And at the death, MS Dhoni specifically adopted the mindset of ‘the deeper you go, the more pressure there is on the bowlers’. In close games he would often take batting innings to the last over and delay dealing the final blow, with designated finishers selected to chase down any total if wickets were in hand.
Like any trend though, nothing lasts forever.
Where MS Dhoni’s India perhaps hit their ceiling, Eoin Morgan’s England was able to burst through as they skyrocketed white ball batting with totals that were once considered impossible. Morgan’s tenure was typified by an ‘attack as often as possible’ mentality.
Yes, this was in large part down to a clear and collective shift in mindset by Morgan and his men. But their new approach may also have been influenced by the latest set of revisions to the ‘Power Play’ rules that came into effect in 2015, the year Morgan officially took over as captain.
With all the previously mentioned stipulations and rule changes now in play, Morgan made it a point to pack his team with able batters from 1 to 11 to ensure an unrelenting barrage with the blade from start to finish.
The extra batting depth afforded all the batters a greater degree of freedom to swing the bat harder and more often, regardless of how many fielders were permitted on the boundary.
In short, Morgan and his England side made sure to fully make the most of the latest rules and regulations and be trendsetters in the era of white ball cricket they were a part of.
Therefore what was once an exceptional ODI score in the 2000s and early 2010s (around 290-320) is generally deemed mediocre in today’s climate given how batting-friendly conditions have become. Nowadays, scores upwards of 350, 400, and even 450, are not uncommon.
This constant evolution in style of play has been imperative for the survival of teams in the 50-over game. But in Test cricket, this is not necessarily the case.
The best teams may lead with their unique selling point, but they still display versatility to tackle the rigours and uncertainty of Test cricket
Given Test cricket’s relative stability in its structure, rules, and demands over the years, the fundamental approach to this format has typically been aligned among the most successful players and teams across different eras. People often say Test cricket brings out the best of the best by testing all foundational aspects of a player. To me, as a fan, these are:
- Skill
- Mental strength
- Tactical nous
- Adaptability
- Longevity
- The intangible quality of ‘seizing the moment’
In a nutshell, over 5 days the team that exhibits most or all of these qualities for sustained periods will emerge victorious, and the players who display most or all of these traits will be the most successful. By extension, the teams and players that maintain this level of excellence across series and years are those which truly become great.
This may mean playing cricket that is not “entertaining” for large chunks of a game to give yourself a chance to, later, play “entertaining” cricket and advance the game.
Test cricket is not entertaining in the same way T20 cricket is, nor is it intended to be. Test cricket’s entertainment comes from a number of things, some of which revolve around patience and powers of concentration to navigate periods of attrition when the opposition’s best bowler is at their peak.
Then there is the matter of conditions – ball, pitch, and overhead.
Generally, the red ball inherently does more for the bowlers and for longer (though the Kookaburra ball has come under fire over the years for its softness and lack of responsiveness for bowlers once the new ball shine diminishes). Additionally, reverse swing is something Test cricket offers which T20 cricket does not and 50-over cricket no longer can.
Consequently, batters have to be vigilant and technically on point throughout the entirety of their innings.
With regards to the pitch, it is not just a 22-yard strip intended to see a game be complete in a few hours or a day as is the case in white ball cricket, but rather, over the best part of 5 days where it can change in its behaviour. Batters and bowlers need game plans to thrive when the pitch evolves over these 5 days, through periods where the pitch is flat and encourages ‘Bazball’ style batsmanship to times where the pitch breaks up, cracks, or offers assistance for the bowlers which in turn demands circumspection and common sense as a batting unit.
As for the overhead conditions, each country possesses its own challenges. Whether it is cool or humid, overcast or sunny skies, batters need a game to survive and thrive across all seasons.
This adaptability to all conditions and situations is currently the facet of ‘Bazball’ that has been tested the most, especially for the batting unit. Without alternative plans, I personally do not believe ‘Bazball’ will consistently hold up in all conditions for extended periods of time (ie, across a 5-match Test series or across multiple series).
If there is any truth to my hunch and if this sentiment is shared by any of the ‘Bazball’ set up, the dilemma this poses to the English team may be one that questions one of their fundamental doctrines, which is to “entertain”.
I am willing to be proven wrong. But is losing key moments in a game, in the quest for entertainment, always as entertaining as they believe? Only the fans can answer this.
Next time...
The cricket itself has been a riot to watch. However, it has not been without its fair share of condemnation from those outside of the ‘Bazball’ bubble.
In ‘Part 3’, I will take a closer look at the batting trends we, as the fans, have observed since the start of ‘Bazball’. Pundits and ex-players have identified some of the glaring issues that have cropped up time and time again. I will provide my thoughts on why adaptability will always remain at a premium in Test match cricket, no matter the singular brand of cricket a team may adopt.
But the most intriguing part of ‘Bazball’ to-date has been the ‘chat’ surrounding Test cricket’s modern enigma.
A barrage of outlandish comments, sound bites, and claims from players throughout 2023 and early 2024 has raised eyebrows. In the absence of recent, consistent positive results and a theme of recurring mistakes, some have felt that the team was now more ‘talking the talk’ than ‘walking the walk’.
Figure attributions:
Figure 1
Icon made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com <a href=”https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/england” title=”england icons”>England icons created by Freepik – Flaticon</a>
Icon made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com <a href=”https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/champion” title=”champion icons”>Champion icons created by Freepik – Flaticon</a>
Figure 2
Icon made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com <a href=”https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/new-zealand” title=”new zealand icons”>New zealand icons created by Freepik – Flaticon</a>
Icon made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com <a href=”https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/south-africa” title=”south africa icons”>South africa icons created by Freepik – Flaticon</a>
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Icon made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com <a href=”https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/pakistan” title=”pakistan icons”>Pakistan icons created by Freepik – Flaticon</a>
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Icon made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com <a href=”https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/england” title=”england icons”>England icons created by Freepik – Flaticon</a>
Icon made by Freepik from www.flaticon.com <a href=”https://www.flaticon.com/free-icons/champion” title=”champion icons”>Champion icons created by Freepik – Flaticon</a>
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West Indies Cricket Board Flag icon made by Icons8 <a target=”_blank” href=”https://icons8.com/icon/JakrjGGiHx2F/west-indies-cricket-board-flag”>West Indies Cricket Board Flag</a> icon by <a target=”_blank” href=”https://icons8.com”>Icons8</a>
DISCLAIMER
The posts published on this blog are intended simply to provide some food for thought for fellow cricket fans across the world. This is a place which respects and enjoys all cricketers from all nations and, as such, does NOT aim to solely vilify any specific person or team.
Differing opinions and lively debates are more than welcome. However, personal attacks and abuse of any kind will NOT be tolerated here.
Thanks for your understanding.
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I have never heard about Bazball. Interesting!
btw your links / pictures doesn’t work.
/ Emma ~ emmasantorini.com
Hi Emma, Thanks for reading and commenting. Appreciate it.
That’s interesting. The links seem to work on my end and on a friend’s device too, could it be perhaps something on your end?