India star Ravichandran Ashwin has described England 's 'Bazball' revolution as "amazing to watch", but admitted it is "scary to think where the game is headed".
Ashwin did not play in the rescheduled fifth Test between India and England at Edgbaston, with Ravindra Jadeja preferred as the sole spinner, and watched on as the hosts completed a record-breaking run chase to level the series.
England chased down 378 to win the Test, their highest-ever successful chase, losing just three wickets in the process as Joe Root and Jonny Bairstow both scored unbeaten hundreds. New Test coach Brendon McCullum has been in charge for just four matches so far, but has already overseen stunning fourth innings chases in all of them, leading to his style of playing being dubbed 'Bazball'.
And in an appearance on the 'Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Club' podcast , Ashwin was asked about 'Bazball', replying: "It was amazing to watch, but as a bowler it is quite scary to think where the game is headed.
"I definitely think the ball and the pitches have a role to play in how England are playing, permitting a certain brand of cricket. I think we need to be careful about this brand of cricket being the way forward.
"Test cricket has been the same for hundreds of years and there will be games and series that are played like that. Whether it's the same brand of cricket you play all along is very debatable."
McCullum himself has said he is not a fan of the 'Bazball' term, telling SEN Radio: "I don't really like that silly term that people are throwing out there. Because there's actually quite a bit of thought that goes into how the guys manufacture their performances and when they put pressure on bowlers and which bowlers they put pressure on.
"There's also times where they've absorbed pressure beautifully as well. I'm sure that our guys will try and still maintain a really positive approach.
"I think the real key is not just the crash and burn if we look at the approach of how the guys have done it."
