"Can't just play in one gear" - Michael Vaughan advises England to abandon Bazball in 5th Test
Published - 29 Feb 2024, 05:33 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:27 AM
![Michael Vaughan and Joe Root](https://static.cricketaddictor.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Michael-Vaughan-and-Joe-Root.jpg?q=80)
Former cricketer Michael Vaughan criticized England’s lack of adaptability in batting during the five-match Test series in India. Michael Vaughan advised the Ben Stokes-led team to adjust their strategies according to the situation rather than playing aggressive cricket.
The term “Bazball” emerged when Brendon McCullum became the Test coach, shifting England’s batting strategy to aggressive play. This approach yielded significant success in red-ball cricket, with England winning 13 out of 18 Test matches leading up to the Indian tour.
The visiting team began the series with a 28-run win in Hyderabad despite a 190-run deficit in the first innings. However, they faced three consecutive defeats, resulting in a series loss to India. Notably, this marked England’s first Test series defeat in the Bazball era.
Test Cricket Is The Best Format – Michael Vaughan
In a conversation with Cricbuzz, Michael Vaughan emphasized the importance of adjusting to different game situations. Vaughan suggested that England could achieve better results against formidable opponents if they improved their approach.
“I’ve said many, many times, you can’t just play in one gear, because you’ll get found out. You’ve just got to go up and down in the gears, play the situation, read the pitch, and read the bowlers. That’s why Test match cricket is the best format because it allows you to just play the situation a little bit more sensibly at times. And if they can do that, I think they’re in a very strong position going forward, playing Test match cricket against all the other teams. Not many teams go to India and win; not many teams compete in India,” Vaughan said.
They Just Need To Play Smarter At Times – Michael Vaughan