Examining whether Bazball becomes counter-productive for England — especially when they lead and fail to consolidate dominance.
The 2025 Perth Test between Australia and England ended within two days. But the momentum shifted from one team to another during both the days. In fact, England had the upperhand for most of the sessions until a maverick ton from Travis Head took the game away from England. However, a close look at the match shows that after taking a first innings lead of 40 despite being bowled out for 172 in the first innings, England had the chance to bat Australia out of the match. However, they ended up with just 164 in the second innings, setting a target of 205. Australia didn’t break much sweat to overhaul the target.
Loopholes in Bazball
There have been some loopholes in Bazball that some teams have exploited. England’s Bazball-style of game has got them success, but in a few matches they have lost the plot despite dominating the match initially. Or, it could be said that Bazball was blown away as opposition found weakness in England’s style of play.
Since the Bazball started, England have lost quite a few games despite tasting success initially in the first innings with their style of play. A few matches that Bazball was blown away despite dominating initially include the Wellington Test in 2023 against New Zealand, the Birmingham Test in 2023 against Australia, the Ranchi Test in 2024 against India, and The Oval Test in 2025 against India.
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Let’s see how England lost the plot after getting the better of the opposition in the first innings or so.
Wellington Test in 2023 – Showing their Bazball style of batting, England raked up 435/5 declared in the first innings, with Harry Brook making 186. England then bowled out for New Zealand 209 taking a 226-run lead. But England still went on to lose the match. New Zealand made 483 after being asked to follow on. England chasing 258 for a win, ended up losing the match by just a run.
Birmingham Test in 2023 – England played Bazball to score 393/8 declared despite a centurion Joe Root at the crease. Australia were bowled out for 386 to concede a lead of 7 runs. But instead of shutting Australia with another sound batting performance in second innings, England could manage only 273 in the second innings. Australia showed great character to stitch a match-winning stand of unbeaten 55 runs between Pat Cummins and Nathan Lyon for the ninth wicket to win the match by 2 wickets. Bazball again failed to finish off a Test for England.
Ranchi Test in 2024 – England took a vital first-innings lead of 46 runs in the Ranchi Test against India in 2024. However, once again, they failed to capitalise on it, as they were bowled out for 145 in the second innings. The England batters fell to the spin web of Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav who took all the ten England wickets to fall in the second innings. India then chased down the target of 192 with five wickets to spare.
Oval Test in 2025 – The stage was set for England to unleash their Bazball style of play after they were set a target of 374 runs to win the series 3-1. In fact, they were on course to triumph, with centurions Joe Root, and Brook at the crease. They were batting at 301/3 but a collapse saw them lose their last seven wickets for 66 runs, and give India a win and the satisfaction of drawing the series.
All these cases show Bazball still has room for improvements while opposition are trying to expose the loopholes and making it look very ordinary.
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So, what ails Bazball in such Tests?
Here are some observations from these cases to show England’s Bazball philosophy lost its way despite tasting success initially.
England starts off well, blasting all bowling unit with their attacking style of play. Batting first, they look to put a big score while playing aggressively and scoring at a brisk pace. They even managed to bowl out opponents for a total below their first innings score. But England continue with the same game plan in their second innings as well and play into the opposition’s hands. Instead of shutting out the opposition with yet another tall score in the second innings, they end up with a below par score, and set a manageable target. England do fight tooth and nail to defend the target, but the lack of extra 30-40 runs comes back to haunt them. Eventually, England fail to defend the score despite their best efforts.
Where and why England are making those mistakes?
Taking too many risks even when the game is in their hands neutralises the advantage gained in the first innings, and eventually losing the plot. In a few rare cases where they have struggled to chase down a target, England have been guilty of panicking and lose the plot to give away the momentum to the opposition’s favour.
When you are in the lead, play sensibly. However, this rule does not apply to England’s Bazball style of play. When they have been in a good position, England have continued to try scoring briskly, instead of working to post a total beyond opponent’s first-innings score. In contrast, South Africa recently showed how to bat an opponent out of the match. In the last Test against India at Guwahati, South Africa didn’t enforce the follow on, continued batting sensibly to post a record target for India in India, or in other words, batted out the opposition with some intelligent style of play.
The way forward
Former England opener Geoffrey Boycott reckons that England could win the day-night Gabba Test in Ashes 2025-26 if they take a “measured approach”.
“But it doesn’t help our chances of success if Ben Stokes keeps encouraging our batsmen to attack with one finger hovering over the self-destruct button,” Boycott wrote in a Daily Telegraph column.
There is no harm in taking a step back to curb the natural game a little bit, bat sensibly or play percentage cricket without taking any undue risk and put the team’s needs first. However, England believe in their style of attacking play whether batting or bowling. But they must also learn to evolve their game to suit what is needed by the team or match situation.
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