R Ashwin’s Take on England’s Bazball Approach: “Test Cricket Isn’t a Runway”

Following England’s 1–4 defeat against India in the Test series, questions arise about the effectiveness of England’s aggressive playing style known as Bazball. Ravichandran Ashwin sheds light on both the flaws and potential future of this approach.

India’s Ravichandran Ashwin bowls a delivery on the fourth day of the third Test match between India and England, at the Niranjan Shah Stadium, in Rajkot.

Despite England’s disappointing performance, Ashwin remains optimistic about Bazball’s prospects. Reflecting on the series, he acknowledges the immense pressure India faced but believes that with the right balance, Bazball can lead to success.

Ashwin, who celebrated his 100th Test match and crossed the 500-wicket milestone during the series, points out a flaw in Bazball through England opener Zak Crawley’s dismissal in the Dharamsala Test. Crawley’s high-risk shot selection ultimately led to his downfall, highlighting the impracticality of playing Test cricket like an airplane on a runway.

Drawing a humorous analogy to driving styles, Ashwin compares England’s methodical approach to driving in lanes with India’s more unpredictable traffic, suggesting that the rigid nature of Bazball may not adapt well to unexpected situations.

In Ashwin’s view, Bazball emphasizes transferring pressure onto opponents but lacks a plan for capitalizing on that pressure. He suggests that England could have turned the series in their favor had they focused on making their opponents pay after transferring the pressure.

Ultimately, Ashwin believes that England’s defeat serves as a learning opportunity for players like Ben Stokes and encourages them to adapt their approach for future matches.