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Legendary England cricketer Geoffrey Boycott expressed strong disapproval of England's approach following their 106-run defeat by India in the second Test at Visakhapatnam on February 5. Boycott criticised the England squad for their reliance on the aggressive 'Bazball' strategy, which he believes fell short in this instance. He emphasised that there's no dignity in defeat and advised the team to adapt their play style based on the match conditions.
"Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes are besotted with attack, attack, attack. It's as if they say 'if we can't win, we will go down in glorious failure instead.' But there is no glory in failure or defeat," Boycott wrote in his column on The Telegraph.
"Bazball is great entertainment when it comes off. But once you believe in an ideal over substance, then you have lost the plot. Today England gave the match away. Bazball was a failure," he added.
Joe Root heavily criticised for a bizarre batting strategy
In a stark turnaround from the first Test in Hyderabad, where England triumphed by 28 runs utilizing their bold 'Bazball' method, the second Test saw India leveling the series 1-1. England faced a daunting task on the fourth day, chasing a record-breaking target of 399 runs. Despite Zak Crawley's commendable effort of 73 runs, the Indian bowlers methodically secured wickets on a pitch that offered them little assistance. Ben Stokes had previously stated the team's confidence in chasing the significant fourth-innings total with their assertive approach.
The English batters, including Joe Root, adopted an offensive stance from the outset. However, their aggressive approach, combined with some careless running between the wickets, contributed to their downfall. Nonetheless, England achieved 292 runs, marking the second-highest fourth-innings score by a visiting team in India. Notably, all English batters, except for Stokes and Shoaib Bashir, maintained a strike rate above 55 in the final innings.
Boycott specifically criticised Root for his dismissal of an ill-advised shot, noting the potential significance of his innings in the chase.
"Scoring at five an over was entertaining but too many batsmen gave their wickets away after good starts. The best way to achieve a total of nearly 400 is by one of the batsmen scoring a big hundred. Looking to go after good bowlers and scoring quickly comes with risk," Boycott wrote.
"Bazball cost Joe Root his wicket. As soon as he came in, he was dancing down the pitch trying to hit it over the top and very soon swiped it up in the air. He only scored 16. England's best technical batsman is normally a busy player who scores at a good rate, but trying to go after the bowling as soon as he comes in takes him out of his comfort zone," he opined.
Geoffrey Boycott urges England cricketers to use common sense
Boycott argued that England's attempt to replicate Twenty20 cricket in the Test format led to their defeat. He urged the team to apply common sense and adapt their strategy according to the game's demands, highlighting the importance of situational awareness over a one-size-fits-all approach.
"Twenty20 cricket seems to have got in their head and made them think that every ball must be scored off with an aggressive stroke, sweep, swipe or cross-batted shot. Twenty20 is cricket's answer to baseball, where you attempt a big hit every time. England's batting resembled Twenty20," Boycott continued.
"But why can't our team play positively and with common sense? Batting has always been about being able to adapt to the circumstances, whether that is conditions or the opponents. Pick your moments when to attack and defend," he concluded.
This criticism underscores the ongoing debate about the 'Bazball' strategy's effectiveness in Test cricket, especially in challenging conditions like those faced in India.
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