Bazball. The buzzword that has transformed the format of England Test cricket since Ben Stokes became captain and Brendon McCullum was appointed head coach. It is bold, it is brash, and, let’s face it, it is a whole lot of fun. But with the India-England Test series commencing on June 20, former England spinner Monty Panesar has thrown in a dose of reality, stating that although Bazball is entertaining, it simply cannot survive on traditional English seaming pitches.
Bazball’s Kryptonite: The Swinging & Seaming Ball
Let’s start with the base-level factor that’s self-evident: Bazball is reliant upon overtly batting-friendly conditions; the sun is out, the track is flat, and a Kookaburra ball is going soft after 30 overs. But England in June? Quite a different animal. Cloudy skies, Duke balls doing the kind of magic that those who’ve ever seen wiggle in July will recognize, green-tinged pitches that are the stuff fast-bowlers’ fantasies of five-fors are made of.
Panesar’s argument is straightforward. England cannot take the risk of seaming pitches because it gets in the way of their ultra-aggressive game plan. They need time in the middle, not face-planting inswingers and unpredictable bounce. And assuming plurals in only hoping for games which go into Days 4 and 5 (nobody wants three-day tests, right?), they are presumably looking to flatten out the playing surface, literally.
Flat Tracks: A Secret Weapon for India’s Batting?
Let’s turn back the clock to the 2021/22 home series in England against India. India had England on the ropes before having a draw in the final match. However, with no Kohli and no Rohit, the only difference from this series is that it is Shubman Gill’s turn to lead. If there is ever a time for a younger Indian side to make their mark on flatter pitches, it could be now.
Panesar expects the surfaces will suit India just as much, if not more, than England. Think about it. The likes of Yashasvi Jaiswal, Gill, and Ruturaj Gaikwad are stroke-makers who like to bat through the line. Flat, slow pitches in Manchester or The Oval could be a batting paradise, not just for England’s Bazballers, but India’s young guns as well.
Also, don’t forget about India’s spinners. Monty recommends playing Washington Sundar, second spin alongside Jadeja’s left-arm spin, especially in the last two Tests. If the pitches remain dry and are deteriorating by Day 4, suddenly India’s spin options look threatening—even on English turf.
Read Also: The Kohli Effect: How One Batter Made the World Watch
The Real Test: Can Bazball Adapt or Die Trying?
What makes Bazball beautiful is its audacity. But the risk is also a vulnerability. When England went down the order of the disciplined Indian attack in various ways at 60/1, charging down the wicket or reverse scooping, it could move from audacious to bonkers in any time frame.
England lost 4-1 to India at home earlier this year, and with that, do Stokes & Co. will have pressure to prove Bazball is not just a fad when conditions don’t conform to the high-octane game being played. Will they even adjust the movement of the game or stay true and go down 0-2 again?
Panesar’s point is much broader than pitch talk: this is about strategy. England might get to play at home, but if they are just trying to level the playing field, the risk is that they might just be giving the advantage to India.
So here is the real question: can Bazball find a new role beyond flat-track fireworks? Or is this series going to show that even the gutsiest of revolutions must have a Plan B? What do you think: boom or bust for Bazball against India? Let us know in the comments.
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