India star expects 'Bazball' to "falter" despite Stokes and McCullum success

26 February 2023 , 10:10

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Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes have guided England to ten wins in 11 Tests playing 'Bazball' (Image: Philip Brown/Popperfoto/Popperfoto via Getty Images)

India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin says he expects 'Bazball' to "falter on certain types of wickets", despite England's stunning success under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum so far.

Since taking charge last summer, Stokes and McCullum have got England playing a much more positive and aggressive style of cricket that has since been dubbed 'Bazball' after the coach's nickname.

The pair have guided England to ten wins in 11 Tests, securing a series of memorable victories at home along with impressive wins away from home in Pakistan and New Zealand.

However, Ashwin remains unconvinced about whether England will continue enjoying success playing 'Bazball' in different conditions around the world. In a video on his YouTube channel, he said: "We now have a concept called 'Bazball'. England is playing fast-paced Test match cricket.

"They want to play a certain style of cricket. But on certain types of wickets, when you try and attack every ball, you will falter. There are both advantages and disadvantages to this approach.

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"Some will say, 'instead of defending and getting all out for 100, I [may as well] slog it and get all out for 140, right?' We will only know when the game pans out whether the approach works or not. Sometimes, on the wicket, conditions need to be respected."

India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin expects 'Bazball' to "falter on certain types of wickets" (Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)

Ashwin has previously admitted 'Bazball' made him feel "scared" about the future of Test cricket, having seen it up close for the first time when England completed a record-breaking run chase to beat India in a one-off Test last summer.

"It was amazing to watch, but as a bowler it is quite scary to think where the game is headed," he told the 'Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Club' podcast . "I definitely think the ball and the pitches have a role to play in how England are playing, permitting a certain brand of cricket.

"I think we need to be careful about this brand of cricket being the way forward. Test cricket has been the same for hundreds of years and there will be games and series that are played like that. Whether it's the same brand of cricket you play all along is very debatable."

Matthew Cooper