Ashes 2023: "Every Team We Have Come Up Against Has Doubted..." - Paul Collingwood Opens Up On Bazball Approach Ahead Of The First Test

Updated - 14 Jun 2023, 01:42 PM

England National Cricket Team
England National Cricket Team (Image Credits: Twitter)

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England assistant coach Paul Collingwood said that the Ben Stokes-led team made Test cricket exciting with their aggressive style of play in red-ball cricket. Paul Collingwood is confident about the England batters tackling the Australia bowlers in the much-anticipated Ashes series at home.

England succeeded with their aggressive brand of cricket under the leadership of skipper Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum. England won the series against New Zealand and South Africa at home and whitewashed Pakistan in Pakistan. They have won 11 out of 13 matches since last summer.

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In an interview organised by Sony Sports on Tuesday ahead of the first Test, Paul Collingwood expressed excitement about playing against the best team in the upcoming series.

“Yeah, I think this will be our biggest test (under Stokes and McCullum). We are coming up against the old rival. The Ashes is always seen as the biggest test, alongside playing India in India,” Paul Collingwood said.

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“This is what Test cricket is all about. You want to play against the best. They have deservedly won the World Test Championship. We are very much looking forward to taking them on in our own backyard,” he added.

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Paul Collingwood pointed out that every team doubted their approach before playing against them. The former England all-rounder said that England proved them wrong with their performances.

“Every team we have come up against has doubted whether we can have that approach against their bowling attack. It’s fun for us. It may be successful. It may not be successful. But the overall vision of the team is to make Test cricket more exciting,” he further added.

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“We are certainly going to be trying. What makes sport so exciting is the uncertainty about what’s going to happen. We are confident we can do it, but who knows? If it doesn’t work, people say we failed. Maybe not. We are trying to push the boundaries of what can be achieved in Test cricket,” he concluded.

England will lock horns with Australia in the five-match series in the longer format of the game, with the first Test scheduled to begin on June 16 at Edgbaston in Birmingham.

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