By Trisha Ghosal in London
Since Brendon McCullum took over as coach and Ben Stokes as captain, England have brought a different flavour to Test cricket, a style defined by positivity, aggression, and scoring at 4.5 to 5 runs per over. While this has added a dash of entertainment to the format, England must now ask themselves: is it actually working?
A WTC final at home, but England nowhere to be seen
In May 2022, McCullum was appointed Head Coach and Stokes became captain to revitalise England’s floundering Test fortunes. Together, they introduced a fearless approach. England became more willing to chase in the fourth innings, and even someone as technically adept as Joe Root adopted a more aggressive style. This Bazball bravery led to memorable chases—378 against India at Edgbaston in 2022 and 371 at Leeds in 2025, again against India.
But three years into the Bazball era, reality bites. In the 2021–23 WTC cycle, England finished fourth. In 2023–25, they slipped to fifth. And the issue isn’t just their rank. From 1 May 2022 to 31 May 2025, England played 36 Tests, winning 23 but losing 12. They drew just one. Bazball is a double-edged sword: thrilling, yes but unforgiving.
Bazball works, but only against some teams
England’s major Test contests are against Australia and India. Has Bazball held up? Since its inception, England have played 16 Tests against these two teams, winning six, losing eight, and drawing two. They haven’t won a single series against either.
In contrast, England have played 25 Tests against other nations in the same period, winning 19 and losing 6. They’ve clinched 8 out of 10 series. The numbers are telling: Bazball is selectively effective, not universally successful.
Smart Bazball, just a one-off?
At Lord’s, in the third Test of this series, England finally played what looked like proper Test cricket. Ollie Pope and Stokes both claimed that Bazball was evolving based on conditions.
But come the final Test at the Kia Oval, that evolution vanished. At 332/4, needing just 42 more with six wickets in hand, England had the game in the bag. Then Jacob Bethell played a reckless shot, and on Day 5, Jamie Smith bizarrely charged Siraj and edged behind, with just 27 required.
No discredit to the Indian bowlers, but these brain fades cost England the match and could hamper their WTC final chances. Will England still back Bazball after this?
Do England’s batters have the technique for traditional Test cricket?
Take Jamie Smith and Harry Brook. Backed for their aggression and boundary-hitting, they are poster boys of Bazball. But do they possess the technique to survive a moving ball?
It appears England have prioritised aggression over technical solidity. In challenging conditions especially when opposition bowlers are on top, England’s batters often look clueless. Instead of digging in, they go for broke and end up throwing it away.
Bazball might appear refreshing and revolutionary, but the cracks are clear. If England don’t address them, then despite hosting the next three WTC finals, they may remain mere spectators in their own backyard.
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