Former England batter Michael Vaughan has lashed out at the Ben Stokes-led side’s ‘Bazball’ approach after a poor show in the recently-concluded third Test against India in Rajkot. India registered their biggest-ever Test win on Sunday, hammering England by 434 runs. Chasing an improbable total of 557, England were bowled out for 122 in their second innings. Before England’s batting collapse on Day 4, Vaughan said that England’s ‘Bazball’ approach has been exposed on Indian conditions.
“I am afraid Bazball has been exposed this week. It’s great when it works. The first Test was a pitch that did all sorts so I get Bazball on that pitch, but not the last two where the pitches have been absolutely fine to just play with positive intent but more so common sense,” Vaughan said on BBC.
Before India wrapped up the proceedings in the final session, Vaughan had predicted that England might be staring at humiliation for the first-time ever in ‘Bazball’ era.
“Let’s be honest, this could get messy for England. They have lost games in the Bazball era but they have never really been hammered. This could be the first,” Vaughan had said on-air.
Vaughan had also put out a post on social media to point out the same.
“Even when this England team have lost in the last 2 years you have always been able to take positives .. or they haven’t been hammered .. this is looking like a wake up call that surely sends a message you can’t just play one way against quality teams,” Vaughan had posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Even when this England team have lost in the last 2 years you have always been able to take positives .. or they haven’t been hammered .. this is looking like a wake up call that surely sends a message you can’t just play one way against quality teams .. #INDvENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 18, 2024
Vaughan also said that “common sense” should prevail in the English camp, suggesting that ‘Bazball’ might not work everywhere.
Reflecting on his side’s defeat, England captain Stokes said: “Ben Duckett played an unbelievable innings, that was the tone we wanted to set with the bat. [First-innings approach] It was about identifying opportunities to score and push up to their total. With how the wicket was going we wanted to push it on as much as we could but sometimes that doesn’t work out. Opinions in the dressing room are the ones that matter to us. We’re 2-1 down in the series but still have two games left. We leave this game behind, know we’ve got to win the next two to win the series.”
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