Overview:
They have been successful, winning a lot of matches at home and on away tours. England don't play for draws, and the batters go for the target no matter how challenging it is.
England’s habit of playing aggressively in Test cricket cost them the second red-ball match against India. The top order batters, especially Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley and Ollie Pope, tried to take on the bowlers and ended up getting dismissed. The trio didn’t try to spend time in the middle despite the flat wicket at Edgbaston, and their team suffered a heavy defeat by 336 runs. In reply to India’s first innings total of 587 runs, the hosts were bowled out for 407, with six batters registering ducks.
Chasing 608 runs to win in the fourth and final innings of the game, England were dismissed for 271. Although the English team will not change their approach, Sunil Gavaskar felt that Bazball will not work on the bowler-friendly wickets.
“Bazball is not the best ball if something is happening for the bowlers from the wicket. When the wicket is flat, England batters’ aggressive batting can win them a game and looks good, but the moment the track starts helping the bowlers, the aggressive approach doesn’t work as often,” Sunil Gavaskar said.
England have adopted a more attacking style to their batting since Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum took over as Test captain and head coach. They have been successful, winning a lot of matches at home and on away tours. England don’t play for draws, and the batters go for the target no matter how challenging it is.
The third Test will be played at Lord’s, and the wicket is expected to assist the fast bowler. India will welcome back Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested for the Edgbaston Test, and he will lead the bowling attack in the presence of Mohammed Siraj and Akash Deep.