The longest format of the game has undergone a major change in recent times; unlike old times, players are no longer focused on playing an abundance of deliveries but rather seek opportunities to score quick runs.
This evolution of the game can be noted most significantly in the English side, which has made it a habit to score quick runs of late. Ever since Brendon McCullum's appointment as the red-ball coach for England, the players have been abiding by a new strategy of offence being the best form of defence.
In the first innings of the India vs England Test at Edgbaston, the English batters Harry Brook and Jamie Smith put on a similar show despite a pile of wickets that had already fallen. Jamie looked unbothered by the fall of wickets and launched an attack on the Indian bowlers from the very first delivery he faced.
With England scoring 407 runs in their first innings of play, India was given a lead of 180 runs in the first innings. However, the English batters scored all these runs in a very quick time, as they batted for only 89.3 overs.
After being reduced to 84/5, England batters bounced back and finished the innings with a scoring run rate of 4.54, which is incredibly high going by the standards of Test cricket.
“India know they need time to bowl England out, it’s still a very good pitch. That’s why I think they’ve been positive tonight, which is the right approach. Also they’re taking advantage of tired bowlers. That’s the negative of Bazball; these bowlers hardly get a rest,” said Nasser Hussain.
The former English skipper Nasser Hussain identified that the bowlers, after bowling for almost 150+ overs in the first innings, did not get adequate rest, since the English batters are too quick at scoring runs. As a result of this, the bowlers are tired out, the advantage of which favours the opponent team.
“Watching this England team is just so much fun, long may it continue. One of the consequences of Bazball, though, is their bowlers bowl so quickly – on flat pitches in back-to-back matches, they’re coming in tired. They look tired and frazzled,” complained the former English veteran Nasser Hussain.
England pile runs at the run-rate of 4.54 at Edgbaston
England batters Harry Brook and Jamie Smith not only saved England from a huge collapse on one of the flattest pitches in cricket history but also piled up some invaluable runs in no time.
Jamie Smith got to his hundred almost with a strike rate over 125, which seems a great batting performance even if this had the One-Day format. However, he did it in red-ball cricket, while Harry Brook also contributed to scoring quick runs during this partnership.
Though the English top-order as well as the tail failed to be promising this time around, they scored 407 runs at a run rate of 4.54.
“He (Jamie Smith) didn’t look reckless, it was more Bazball with brains. Anyone who has watched Surrey and England will know he is a man of talent. More than his ability, I like his calmness and attitude. He looks like he is meant to be playing here,” Nasser Hussain said about Jamie Smith's innings.
English bowlers are fired up early on Day 4
Though the English bowlers came into the second innings with added responsibilities as well, under immense pressure since India, who already had a 180-run lead, was looking to pile further on it.
Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul took full advantage of the tiring English bowlers, as they scored quick runs in a few overs at the end of the day's play. However, Yashasvi Jaiswal, who completed his 2000 test runs, was dismissed at the end of Day 3.
However, such was not the scenario on Day 4, as the English bowler Josh Tongue picked two big wickets, one of comeback man Karun Nair for 26 and the other of opener KL Rahul for a well-made 55.
ALSO READ: Watch: Josh Tongue uproots KL Rahul's middle stump with a beauty in Edgbaston Test
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Nasser Hussain launches attack on Bazball, claims it is killing England bowlers )
Also on site :
- Reform MP James McMurdock suspends himself from party over ‘business propriety during pandemic’
- Trump wants more skilled tradespeople. His Labor Department is trying to cut off a pipeline of workers
- Disturbed’s David Draiman Met with Some Boos at Final Black Sabbath Concert