There are two issues with blaming Bazball for England’s defeat in Rajkot. Firstly, a defeat, however crushing, cannot carry greater weight than the 14 wins in 21 matches (this, after 11 defeats in 17 Tests previously). More significantly, it ignores how good the Indian team is, and how strong their supply chain management has become.
Bazball tends to irritate experts. Perhaps it is the self-confidence of the players. (“We can chase 600 runs”). It demands risk-taking in a format which preaches risk-aversion. There might a touch of schadenfreude too, especially among former players.
All this is shows a misunderstanding of what Bazball stands for. It is not about hitting every ball, nor is it about winning every match. It is a mindset which works on putting pressure on the opposition through positive cricket, but is equally conscious of the need to absorb pressure too.
