In the end it didn’t matter whether England won or lost the Edgbaston Test. Importantly, they began the Ashes as they had been playing for the last year or so, embedding ‘Bazball’ deeper into the lexicon of the game. They stuck to their new philosophy. They ran towards the danger in the evocative words of skipper Ben Stokes.
Bazball is as much about batting attractively as bowling with purpose. Other countries have played similar cricket, but not with such consistency and not with such a passion. Test cricket needs this to remain above white ball formats as the finest expression of the sport. Other coaches, and other countries ought to be influenced now. There will be the occasional loss, but it makes for great viewing.
