Shots fired? "We'll see what happens" says Steve Smith in response to the talk about "Bazball"

[MenInG]

Shots fired? "We'll see what happens" says Steve Smith in response to the talk about "Bazball"

Australia’s Steve Smith said Wednesday he found England’s new attacking “Bazball” approach entertaining to watch, but questioned whether it was sustainable.

England have won all four Tests under new coach Brendon “Baz” McCullum and skipper Ben Stokes with a fearless new mentality, including thrashing India on Tuesday.

“I’ve watched a little bit of it, it’s certainly been entertaining, they’re coming out playing their shots,” Smith said ahead of Australia’s second Test against Sri Lanka starting Friday.

“Even someone like Alex Lees started to come down the wicket when he was on nothing really to play the way he played (against India),” he told reporters.

Having tongue-in-cheek shouted “Bazball” before whacking a shot in an earlier net session, Smith said he was “intrigued to see how long it lasts, if it’s sustainable.

“If you come on a wicket that’s got some grass and Josh Hazlewood, (Pat) Cummins and (Mitchell) Starc are rolling in at you. Is it going to be the same? We’ll see what happens.”


England’s Joe Root now has more centuries to his name than Smith, but the Australian was quick to point out that his rival has played 35 more Tests.

“He’s a quality player and looks like he’s pretty tough to get out at the moment,” Smith said of the prolific run-getter.

The touring Australian team have themselves played attacking cricket on turning pitches to go one-up in the two-Test series with a hammering of the hosts in the opener.

Spinner Nathan Lyon led the bowling charge with nine wickets in the match and the batsmen took control of the opposition spinners with Cameron Green scoring 77 as he used the sweep shot to good effect.

“We went at a good pace in the first Test. If you were sitting there not playing your shots or looking to score, you were probably going to get out eventually. So it was get them before they get us,” Smith said.

https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricke...t/news-story/45e45c11c930d75e1281e0cd208b41aa

 

[MenInG]

Australian optimism may hit a reality check if they aren't careful.

 

[wrongun]

I mean it's normal.

England play attacking cricket for the first time in 200 years and think they just reinvented the game.

Oz want to give them a little bit of stick about it.

Banter.

 

[MenInG]

England have been in fine form this summer, winning all four Test matches they have played. Coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes have made a formidable partnership in the longest format of the game and under them, the Three Lions have played an attacking brand of cricket, which the English press has labelled as 'Bazball'. England defeated India in the rescheduled fifth Test at Edgbaston and now Test coach Brendon McCullum has termed 'Bazball' a "silly term".

"No, I don't have any idea what Bazball is, having a bit of a go, but the boys have been fantastic, couldn't have asked for a better start really. I'm sure that our guys will try and still maintain a really positive approach. I think the real key is not just the crash and burn if we look at the approach of how the guys have done it. That's why I don't really like that silly term that people are throwing out there, because there's actually quite a bit of thought that goes into how the guys manufacture their performances and when they put pressure on bowlers and which bowlers, they put pressure on. There's also times where they've absorbed pressure beautifully as well,"McCullum told Adam Gilchrist on SEN WA Breakfast.

Earlier this week, Australia batter Steve Smith had given his take on 'Bazball' saying whether it is going to be the same when the likes of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are running into bowl.

“I saw those (comments) flick up on one of the feeds somewhere. It's quite right, it is going to be a big challenge when we take on Australia. It's going to challenge our method and it's going to challenge what we're capable of achieving and that's pretty exciting I reckon. Isn't that what the game's all about? Is to sort of reinvigorate yourself and then be confronted against the very best," said McCullum.

“I do believe that both New Zealand and India are two very, very good cricket sides as well. Australia is a different kind of challenge because of the history of the Ashes and the rivalry which exists there," he further stated.

England and Australia will be squaring off in the Ashes next year.

https://sports.ndtv.com/cricket/eng...s-comments-3138998#pfrom=home-ndtv_topstories

 

[Savak]

Bazball is only going to work on a flat pitch where the ball is doing nothing but coming on to the bat nicely. It is impractical on a rank turner or a pacy bouncy wicket or a green wicket aiding swing and seam.