Greg Chappell, a well known Australian cricketer, had some thoughts on England’s Bazball approach during the Test series against India. He liked the Indian team, especially the younger players, for being fearless. But he thought England could have made better choices.
Chappell said Harry Brook, an English player, seemed unsure when to attack and when to be defensive. In his ESPNcricinfo article he wrote that playing positively doesn’t give you a licence to throw caution to the wind and be irresponsible. He said in cricket, especially in Tests, knowing when to take risks is as important as scoring runs.
Chappell said Brook has the natural ability to bat effortlessly. But Test cricket is more than just hitting shots. Knowing when to attack and when to hold back is key.
Chappell acknowledged Brook’s talent but said his decisions on the field had cost England at a crucial stage. When England were trying to get 374 runs, Brook was out when the score was 301/3. That triggered a collapse on the 4th day of the 5th Test. India won by 6 runs and the series ended 2-2.
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Chappell said England’s Bazball had brought their Test team back to life by encouraging players to be bold and play attacking cricket. But he warned that this shouldn’t be used as an excuse to avoid the harder and more patient parts of the game.
Chappell said all England needed was for one batsman to stay calm and handle the pressure. Instead Brook went for a risky shot and got out. He said playing positive cricket means taking calculated risks with confidence and thought, not playing recklessly.
Looking at the series as a whole Chappell said it would be remembered not just for the result but for the drama it produced. The two teams had some fiery exchanges on the field during the five day matches and some heroic efforts from players like Rishabh Pant and Chris Woakes who played through injuries for their teams.Chappell said both teams were tested in many ways – physically, tactically and emotionally. But India were the moral winners as they found their purpose.
