NEW DELHI: As England imploded within the morning session on Day 3 of the second Ashes Test at Lord’s, their ‘Bazball’ strategy has come beneath hearth and is testing the persistence of former gamers and followers.
Resuming on 278 for 4 after throwing away three wickets late on Day 2, England on Friday continued to play carelessly as they had been skittled out for 325 of their first innings.
As Ben Stokes and co. misplaced their remaining 6 wickets for simply 47 runs within the morning session, the hosts gave Australia a stable 91-run lead. And England had been the architects of their very own downfall.
On Thursday, Ollie Pope, Ben Duckett and Joe Root all gifted their wickets to Australia, despite the fact that the guests’ short-ball plan was blindingly apparent.
England had a nightmare begin on the third day when Stokes, who had performed responsibly the earlier night, was dismissed by Mitchell Starc off the second ball.
England, of their earlier incarnation — and most sides in Test historical past — would have taken inventory and re-built. But not this group.
Brook, who made 50, threw manner his wicket after an unpleasant swipe to a Starc supply ended up within the palms of Australia captain Pat Cummins.
“Shocking shot,” former England captain Michael Vaughan informed the BBC. “England clearly like losing. Yesterday they gifted Australia three wickets.
“They arrive on day three, the pitch is doing a bit extra. To see that wicket and Australia now know they’re bowling to the tail.”
Again England did not learn.
Jonny Bairstow, the last recognised specialist batsman, chipped the ball tamely to Cummins off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood. Ollie Robinson charged down the track to part-time spinner Travis Head and got an edge. Stuart Broad missed a sweep against the same bowler.
Alastair Cook, who skippered England to two Ashes series wins, said there was “a way of shock across the floor”.
“We maintain going again to that spell, how valuable Test match runs and periods are,” he said.
“We’ve all watched sufficient cricket, while you get in positions, it’s so valuable and you must realise how valuable that’s and treasure it.”
A gung-ho England went into the Ashes with 11 wins under their belt from 13 Tests under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, playing a thrilling brand of attacking cricket dubbed ‘Bazball’ in reference to the former New Zealand captain.
Questions were asked over whether they could keep up the pace against the recently-crowned world Test champions, who boast a battery of high-class quicks.
England came agonisingly close to winning the first match at Edgbaston last week.
An inspired display by Cummins, this time with the bat, hauled Australia over the line by two wickets.
Even so, England made Australia’s task in the fourth innings far easier than it should have been by tossing wickets away cheaply earlier in the match.
Stokes has repeatedly stressed his fierce commitment to Bazball, saying before the Ashes started that he wanted to “create one thing that goes past cricket”.
But England now find themselves with their backs against the wall, just over half-way through the second Test of a five-match series.
Australia have not won an Ashes series in England since 2001 but, looked at another way, England have not come out on top against their old foe since 2015.
Will England’s great entertainers stick or twist? Can they learn to change gear when they are on top?
Cummins’ side, who are building a healthy lead at Lord’s with two days to go, are strongly placed to take a daunting 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Stokes will point to the fact that England had won just one Test in 17 playing the traditional way before he took over the reins from Joe Root last year.
But England batting great Geoff Boycott, famed for his patient accumulation of runs, believes putting on a show must come second to the main objective of winning.
“If you are going to simply entertain, they may as properly be a circus, that is it,” he told the Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Club podcast.
Resuming on 278 for 4 after throwing away three wickets late on Day 2, England on Friday continued to play carelessly as they had been skittled out for 325 of their first innings.
As Ben Stokes and co. misplaced their remaining 6 wickets for simply 47 runs within the morning session, the hosts gave Australia a stable 91-run lead. And England had been the architects of their very own downfall.
On Thursday, Ollie Pope, Ben Duckett and Joe Root all gifted their wickets to Australia, despite the fact that the guests’ short-ball plan was blindingly apparent.
England had a nightmare begin on the third day when Stokes, who had performed responsibly the earlier night, was dismissed by Mitchell Starc off the second ball.
England, of their earlier incarnation — and most sides in Test historical past — would have taken inventory and re-built. But not this group.
Brook, who made 50, threw manner his wicket after an unpleasant swipe to a Starc supply ended up within the palms of Australia captain Pat Cummins.
“Shocking shot,” former England captain Michael Vaughan informed the BBC. “England clearly like losing. Yesterday they gifted Australia three wickets.
“They arrive on day three, the pitch is doing a bit extra. To see that wicket and Australia now know they’re bowling to the tail.”
Again England did not learn.
Jonny Bairstow, the last recognised specialist batsman, chipped the ball tamely to Cummins off the bowling of Josh Hazlewood. Ollie Robinson charged down the track to part-time spinner Travis Head and got an edge. Stuart Broad missed a sweep against the same bowler.
Alastair Cook, who skippered England to two Ashes series wins, said there was “a way of shock across the floor”.
“We maintain going again to that spell, how valuable Test match runs and periods are,” he said.
“We’ve all watched sufficient cricket, while you get in positions, it’s so valuable and you must realise how valuable that’s and treasure it.”
A gung-ho England went into the Ashes with 11 wins under their belt from 13 Tests under Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum, playing a thrilling brand of attacking cricket dubbed ‘Bazball’ in reference to the former New Zealand captain.
Questions were asked over whether they could keep up the pace against the recently-crowned world Test champions, who boast a battery of high-class quicks.
England came agonisingly close to winning the first match at Edgbaston last week.
An inspired display by Cummins, this time with the bat, hauled Australia over the line by two wickets.
Even so, England made Australia’s task in the fourth innings far easier than it should have been by tossing wickets away cheaply earlier in the match.
Stokes has repeatedly stressed his fierce commitment to Bazball, saying before the Ashes started that he wanted to “create one thing that goes past cricket”.
But England now find themselves with their backs against the wall, just over half-way through the second Test of a five-match series.
Australia have not won an Ashes series in England since 2001 but, looked at another way, England have not come out on top against their old foe since 2015.
Will England’s great entertainers stick or twist? Can they learn to change gear when they are on top?
Cummins’ side, who are building a healthy lead at Lord’s with two days to go, are strongly placed to take a daunting 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Stokes will point to the fact that England had won just one Test in 17 playing the traditional way before he took over the reins from Joe Root last year.
But England batting great Geoff Boycott, famed for his patient accumulation of runs, believes putting on a show must come second to the main objective of winning.
“If you are going to simply entertain, they may as properly be a circus, that is it,” he told the Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Club podcast.
“Go, be knowledgeable circus world wide.”
(With inputs from AFP)
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com