"Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have unlocked an English team like..." - Graeme Smith On Bazball approach

Former South African captain Graeme Smith is impressed with England’s aggressive approach in red-ball cricket under captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum. Graeme Smith commended the duo for revolutionizing Test cricket with their Bazball style.

Brendon McCullum became the head coach of the England Test team in 2022. The former New Zealand skipper, along with Ben Stokes, revitalized the England Test team, guiding them to victories in both home and away conditions with an attacking brand of cricket.

Under McCullum and Stokes, England haven’t lost a Test series. The English team won 14 out of 20 matches in red-ball cricket. England managed a 2-2 draw in the Ashes 2023 series against Australia. They are currently contesting a five-match Test series against India.

Ben Stokes And Brendon McCullum Have Unlocked – Graeme Smith

In a recent interview, Graeme Smith emphasized England’s commitment to applying pressure on India but stated that the Three Lions will face a tough challenge in the ongoing third Test.

“Ben Stokes and Brendon (McCullum) have unlocked an English team like I’ve never seen before. There’s always been a lot of talent, but they seem to have taken away the fear, provided a lot of security for people and look at the game in a really positive way,” Smith told Betway.

“England are certainly sticking true to the way that they want to play in India by applying pressure on the opposition and making them think. The challenge will be how they respond in the next Test in particular,” he added.

The Ben Stokes-led team started the series with a 28-run win in the first Test in Hyderabad, despite a 190-run deficit after the first innings. However, they suffered a 106-run loss in the second Test in Visakhapatnam. The third Test will be crucial to gain a lead in the series.

They’ll Be Very Difficult To Chase Down – Graeme Smith

Graeme Smith cautioned England about the challenging conditions in India, stressing the need for mental freshness and positivity throughout the tour. He pointed out the potential exhaustion from extended field time in the hot and humid Indian conditions

“It’s a very long tour and toiling against India like you have to, with long days in the field combined with the heat, can wear you down towards the back end of a series,” Smith further stated.

“Staying mentally fresh, positive, and within your game plan is important. England have done that well so far and need to hang tough for as long as possible, because if India get their noses ahead then they’ll be very difficult to chase down,” he concluded.

Also read: “Ben Stokes doesn’t Bazball” – Michael Vaughan slams Joe Root for poor shot selection in 3rd IND vs ENG Test