All you need to know about Bazball cricket that has taken England cricket by storm

England has stunned cricket fans and experts around the globe with their aggressive brand of cricket in Test cricket. In the ongoing Ashes Test against Australia, even conventional batsman like Joe Root smashed Nathan Lyon for two huges sixes - one over mid-wicket and other launched over long-on on Friday to complete his 30th Test Century. There was a sense of freedom clearly visible in his batting.

Moreover, when England were 393 for eight and 10 more overs scheduled for the day, captain Ben Stokes declared the innings leaving world cricket in sheer disbelief. Stokes’s plan was to have a crack at Australia. However, the tactic drew mixed reactions from fans and experts.

Well, theses surprising decisions were part of England’s Bazball cricket strategy that has taken England cricket by storm.

What is Bazball?

The term was first coined by a journalist named Andrew Miller. It was coined after former New Zealand cricketer Brendon McCullum’s appointment as the head coach of England last year. ‘Baz’ is the long-standing nickname for McCullum during his playing days. Brendon himself was known for his aggressive brand of cricket.

However, Bazball is not just about aggression or is a set strategy that England follows. It is an approach which comes with a mindset which probably describes ‘freedom’.

The Bazball strategy is not confined to batting only. It is also about aggressive field setting and bowling changes and taking draw out of equation in a Test match.