At an Asian Games table tennis event long ago, a Korean coach explained to me the importance of the third ball attack. He broke it down thus: You serve, await the return and then attack it. It is commonplace now. Back then that strategy was innovative and coaches joked about the fourth ball and fifth ball attacks.
I was reminded of that in England where Bazball is the new mantra (one occasionally hears ‘Benball’ too — perhaps skipper Stokes hasn’t been given enough credit) and fans love it. The more cynical believe that the character of English cricket — safety first, risk-averse, look-before-you-leap — is too deeply ingrained and has had just enough success for everything to be thrown overboard now. Something has to give, they say.
