In a dramatic turn of events at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, India managed to level the five-match series against England with an emphatic 106-run victory in the second test. However, the aftermath saw former England player Geoffrey Boycott expressing his dissatisfaction, directing criticism at England coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes for what he labeled their ‘Bazball’ approach.
England’s valiant start crumbles as India clinches victory
Facing a daunting target of 399, England’s innings began on a promising note with a 50-run partnership between Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. Crawley contributed a steady 73, but the lack of support from the middle-order batters proved detrimental. The English team ultimately collapsed, getting bowled out for 292, with Jasprit Bumrah securing nine wickets in the match.
Geoffrey Boycott slams Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s bazball technique
Boycott, in his column for The Telegraph, did not mince words as he lambasted the England team for their ill-fated ‘Bazball’ approach. He asserted that there is no glory in failure and urged the team to adapt their playing style according to the situation.
“Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes are besotted with attack, attack, attack. It’s as if they say ‘if we can’t win, we will go down in glorious failure instead.’ But there is no glory in failure or defeat. Bazball is great entertainment when it comes off. But once you believe in an ideal over substance, then you have lost the plot. Today England gave the match away. Bazball was a failure,” Boycott said.
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Boycott decries England’s missed opportunity
According to Boycott, England squandered an opportunity to win the match, emphasizing the need for at least one batter to play sensibly and score big. He singled out experienced batter Joe Root, criticizing him for a poor shot selection that cost him his wicket at a crucial juncture in the chase.
“The best way to achieve a total of nearly 400 is by one of the batsmen scoring a big hundred. Looking to go after good bowlers and scoring quickly comes with risk. Bazball cost Joe Root his wicket. As soon as he came in, he was dancing down the pitch trying to hit it over the top and very soon swiped it up in the air. He only scored 16. England’s best technical batsman is normally a busy player who scores at a good rate, but trying to go after the bowling as soon as he comes in takes him out of his comfort zone,” the 83-year-old concluded.
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