Former England cricket player turned commentator Michael Atherton questioned the consistency of the Bazball approach used by the Ben Stokes-led England Test team following their humiliating 434-run loss to India in the third Test on Sunday, February 18. Michael Atherton criticized the England batsmen for their lack of performance in the Rajkot Test first innings.
Michael Atherton noted that the Ben Stokes-led team struggled in the second inning as a result of their inability to seize control of a commanding position on the third day of the game. For just 95 runs in the first inning, the visitors lost their final eight wickets. On Day 2, they had dominated Indian bowlers as a result of Ben Duckett’s 153-run performance, but they were unable to take advantage of the position.
In the Rajkot Test, England was bowled out twice for 319 and 122 after India had scored 445 and 430/4d. In addition, the hosts set a massive 557-run target and became the first team to declare against England during the ‘Bazball’ era.
Wasting a golden opportunity – Michael Atherton says as England suffers a crushing Test defeat
After gaining a lot of attention for their Bazball strategy during their first Test match victory over India in Hyderabad, several experts now think that the same strategy might cause them to lose the series. Despite acknowledging England’s improvement under Ben Stokes’ leadership, Michael Atherton thinks the nation should give up on Bazball.
Michael Atherton questioned England’s tactics in his column for The Times:
“Careful husbandry of resources is not the Bazball way. They have been profligate in the extreme in this match, wasting a golden opportunity to build on Duckett’s brilliant second-day hundred and to achieve parity or more on the first innings,”
“Careful husbandry of resources is not the Bazball way. They have been profligate in the extreme in this match, wasting a golden opportunity to build on Duckett’s brilliant second-day hundred and to achieve parity or more on the first innings,” he added.
Duckett compared Yashasvi Jaiswal’s innings to Bazball, and Atherton went on to criticize England even more for their self-delusion:
“One can admire the positivity and playfulness of Ben Duckett and this England team – such were his comments on the third evening – while also questioning their occasional self-delusion.”
Sometimes gameplans don’t work- England captain Ben Stokes
Michael Atherton and England captain Ben Stokes had similar opinions as the visitors were unable to maintain Ben Duckett’s blistering start. Stokes stated in his post-match interview:
“Ben Duckett played an unbelievable innings. That was the tone we wanted to set throughout the innings. It was about identifying that opportunity and getting as close to India’s total.”
“We wanted to bowl yesterday but it was earlier than when we wanted. Sometimes gameplans don’t work and that was the case,” he added.
At JSCA Stadium in Ranchi, the fourth Test between England and India will begin on February 23. England is currently trailing 1-2 in the five-match Test series.