Cricket

Former England spinner Graeme Swann has lauded the Indian batters for their exceptional performance in the fifth Test match in Dharamsala, drawing comparisons to England's aggressive approach under Ben Stokes.On Day 2, Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma struck centuries, laying the foundation for Sarfaraz Khan and Devdutt Padikkal to further torment the visitors. Swann remarked that India had adopted their own version of "Bazball," England's attacking batting style, and had executed it brilliantly throughout the series."India have come out and are playing England at their own 'Bazball' game - and they're doing very, very well," Swann said during commentary.Ravichandran Ashwin, in his landmark 100th Test, claimed a five-wicket haul as India crushed England by an innings and 64 runs, sealing the series 4-1.England's James Anderson became the third bowler to reach 700 Test wickets, but the tourists were outplayed from the start. Ashwin's off-spin proved devastating, dismissing England's top and middle order as they collapsed to 195 all out.After the match, Ashwin expressed his delight with his performance. "Win the Test and take wickets, what more can a bowler ask for?" he said.India's dominance in the series was a testament to their superior batting and bowling. Gill, Sharma, and Khan all scored centuries, while Ashwin and Mohammed Shami led the bowling attack with 18 and 16 wickets respectively.England's aggressive approach, dubbed "Bazball," had been successful in their recent victories, but India proved that they could match and even surpass their opponents' attacking style.

India's head coach Rahul Dravid has praised Rohit Sharma's leadership style, which he believes has fostered a positive and supportive environment within the team. Under Rohit's captaincy, India has quietly and effectively neutralized England's aggressive 'Bazball' strategy, securing a convincing 4-1 victory in the five-match Test series.Dravid highlighted the team's ability to adapt and overcome challenges, particularly the return of Ravichandran Ashwin from a personal emergency. Ashwin's willingness to contribute despite his personal circumstances showcased the character and resilience of the team.Despite speculation about the exclusion of players like Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer from the Indian team, Dravid emphasized that no one is out of contention. He acknowledged the importance of player selection and the need to consider the team's overall balance.Dravid also commended the improvement of Kuldeep Yadav, who has emerged as a valuable asset with his left-arm wrist spin and batting contributions. The coach recognized the challenges Yadav has faced in competing with established players like Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.In response to concerns raised by all-rounder Shardul Thakur about the hectic Ranji Trophy schedule, Dravid emphasized the need to listen to player feedback and consider ways to manage the domestic schedule more effectively.Dravid's comments reflect his belief in the importance of leadership, teamwork, and player development. He has fostered a culture where players feel valued and supported, which has contributed to India's recent success on the field.

England's 4-1 series defeat to India was a result of being outplayed by the superior team, according to captain Ben Stokes. Despite winning the first Test, England struggled to maintain momentum and were outclassed in the subsequent matches.In the final Test in Dharamsala, England faced a first-innings deficit of 259 and were bowled out for 195 in their second, resulting in an innings and 64-run defeat. R Ashwin's five-wicket haul in the second innings sealed the victory for India, who had earlier posted an imposing 477 thanks to centuries from Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma.Stokes acknowledged England's shortcomings, stating that they had been "outplayed by the better team in the series." However, he emphasized the importance of taking positives from the experience and looking ahead to future challenges."We've got so much cricket coming up in our summer, and then Pakistan and New Zealand," Stokes said. "Taking the positives that we've got from the series is something that I'm really looking forward to. I'm excited to be a part of driving this team even further forward."Despite the disappointing result, Stokes remained committed to England's aggressive "Bazball" approach. He believes that the team's intent and application were evident, even if the results did not always follow."When you look at the game as a whole, and the series as a whole, there's been really small moments throughout every Test match where we wrestled a bit of momentum back towards us, but we've not just been able to maintain and keep that going," Stokes said."And in Test-match cricket, especially out here where the game can turn really fast on you, it's about understanding that and trying to understand those moments and being a bit more relentless with it."Stokes also highlighted the contributions of several young players, including spinner Shoaib Bashir, who took his second five-wicket haul in as many Tests. Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett continued to develop their partnership at the top of the batting order, while veteran James Anderson reached the milestone of 700 Test wickets."I've been lucky enough to be on the field with some of the lads there, the milestones that Jimmy's got to, but being there for 700 wickets as a seamer, it is quite phenomenal," Stokes said."Everything that he has done from the day he first started being a cricketer, let alone international cricketer, to where he is now ... 41 years old, he's as fit as I've ever seen him, and I honestly just don't know when he's going to stop, because the desire to commit is still there. It's great to watch."

India's triumph over England in the ongoing Test series has cast a shadow over the much-hyped "Bazball" era, spearheaded by Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. As the teams prepare for the final Test in Dharamsala, England faces the daunting task of salvaging a 2-3 series result.Former England captain Nasser Hussain has expressed concern over the team's performance, despite the entertainment value provided by their aggressive approach. He emphasizes that results remain paramount, and England's current position near the bottom of the World Test Championship table is a cause for worry.Hussain believes that England's win-loss ratio is the most crucial metric, and they must strive to improve it in Dharamsala. He acknowledges that the team has shown competitiveness throughout the series, but their inability to capitalize on opportunities has cost them dearly.The gulf between India and England, according to Hussain, is significant. A 4-1 defeat would only widen this gap and reinforce the perception of England's struggles in India. He urges the team to field their strongest XI in Dharamsala, regardless of future considerations, and to approach the match with the same intensity as if it were a series decider.Hussain's comments highlight the importance of results in cricket, even amidst the excitement generated by England's attacking style. As the series concludes, England will be determined to prove that they can compete with the world's best and that the "Bazball" era is not merely a flash in the pan.

Ahead of the fifth and final Test of the five-match series against England in Dharamsala, India captain Rohit Sharma expressed uncertainty about the meaning of "Bazball." The term, coined by English cricket commentator Simon Hughes, refers to England's aggressive batting approach under new coach Brendon McCullum."I honestly don't know what [Bazball] means, whether it is to go and strike, whether it is to go and defend and wait for the loose ball," Rohit said in the pre-match press conference.Rohit questioned the significance of the term, stating that he had not witnessed any excessive swinging from England's batters. "I have not seen any wild swinging from anyone, so I don't know exactly what this term means," he added.Despite his uncertainty about the term, Rohit acknowledged England's improved performance since McCullum's appointment. "But, yeah, clearly they have played better cricket from what they played the last time they were here," he said. "And you got to give credit to two of their batters who got big hundreds there and played well."Rohit also responded to England opener Ben Duckett's comment that Yashasvi Jaiswal's aggressive batting was influenced by Bazball. "There was a guy called Rishabh Pant in our team, probably Ben Duckett hasn't seen him play," Rohit said.England have faced three consecutive losses in the series, unable to capitalize on their early 1-0 advantage. The visitors had their chances, notably in Rajkot and Ranchi, but India came back strong on both occasions to win.The fifth and final Test match will begin on March 7 at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala and conclude on March 11, 2024. India and England still have World Test Championship points to gain in Dharamsala, even though the series is decided. India is on top of the World Test Championship standings while England is eighth on the points table.

Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, has hailed Pep Guardiola as the most exceptional sporting leader of the past 15 years. Vaughan believes that England's Ben Stokes should adopt Guardiola's approach of never allowing players to become complacent about their place in the side.Vaughan's comments come in the context of England's Bazball approach, under coach Brendon McCullum, which has backfired during the ongoing tour of India. England have already conceded the series 3-1 after initially winning the first Test in Hyderabad.Vaughan questioned the approach of England batters and demanded greater accountability from them. He cited Guardiola's approach at Manchester City as an example of how to keep players on their toes."In my eyes he's the best sporting leader of this generation, say the last 15 years. He never allows his players to get comfortable. He always keeps them guessing, and they all know they are guaranteed nothing," Vaughan wrote in a column for Daily Telegraph.Vaughan questioned England's selection policy and said despite losing the series the visitors have a lot at stake to play for in the final Test in Dharamsla beginning March 7."Consistency of selection is such a fine balance in team sports. Making people comfortable is right, and England have generally batted well over the last two years," he wrote."There comes a point, though, where when it's your batting that is costing you the biggest series you can't keep sending the same guys out there every week."Vaughan said a loss in Dharamsala would be a demoralising result for England. He once again criticised England's batters approach."India haven't lost two matches in a series at home since 2012, on their run of 17 series wins in a row. 4-1 would be a very disappointing end to a disappointing winter, with the World Cup debacle, both white-ball series lost in the Caribbean and even a poor World Cup for the Under 19s," he wrote."It's a huge week for a number of England's batsmen. When we think of this England team, we think of their wonderfully dynamic batting. But when you look at why they haven't won any of their last three series, it's down to the batting."Vaughan feels when it comes to team selection there should be consistency in the batting order."Complacency can be damaging. As a management team, how you approach selection of batsmen and bowlers is obviously different. Fast bowlers, especially, sit out games and are rightly rotated to preserve their bodies," he wrote."With batsmen you want consistency. When you play like England do, backing is important. Aggressive, expansive cricket means mistakes will be made. Players need to have the confidence to take on risky shots without fear that they will be dropped immediately. That is good, and as captain I always preferred to give a player one game too many than one too few."In hindsight he also took a took a dig at McCullum and Stokes for their approach."I do wonder, though, if this England setup takes backing a bit too far. Since Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum took over, only one batsman has been dropped, and even that was the tamest dropping you will ever see. "England inherited Alex Lees from the previous regime and gave him a crack, but always had their eye on Ben Duckett to open with Zak Crawley so simply moved Lees on at the end of their first summer," he wrote."Ultimately, on any sporting team's road to greatness, you need a moment, a rod, where every player realises 'wow, maybe I'm not part of the furniture'. As soon as people think they are part of the furniture it creates a bit of comfortable complacency, which can be damaging."

The recent defeat of England in Rajkot against India has sparked discussions about the effectiveness of their aggressive approach, known as "Bazball." While some critics attribute the loss to this strategy, a closer examination reveals that there are other factors at play.Firstly, it is important to recognize that a single defeat, no matter how crushing, cannot overshadow the remarkable success England has achieved under the leadership of Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes. In 21 matches, they have secured 14 victories, a significant improvement over their previous record of 11 defeats in 17 Tests.Moreover, it is crucial to acknowledge the strength of the Indian team, which has demonstrated exceptional resilience and a well-developed supply chain management system. India's ability to field a competitive team despite the absence of key players like Virat Kohli, K.L. Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Mohammed Shami, and Ravichandran Ashwin is a testament to their depth and talent.The concept of Bazball, often misunderstood, is not about reckless batting or winning every match. It is a mindset that emphasizes putting pressure on the opposition through positive cricket while also recognizing the importance of absorbing pressure when necessary. This approach has allowed England to play attractive and entertaining cricket, which has captured the imagination of fans worldwide.However, the defeat in Rajkot has exposed some areas where Bazball needs refinement. One notable issue is the discomfort displayed by Joe Root, England's most experienced batter, with certain aspects of the approach. Root's dismissals in both innings suggest that he may not be fully comfortable with the aggressive style of play that Bazball demands.This lack of clarity and decisiveness in England's approach during the chase in Rajkot highlighted cracks in the Bazball philosophy, which prides itself on clear messaging and a unified vision.While Bazball has been praised for its attacking style, it is important to remember that sometimes playing for a draw can be a positive response, especially in a five-Test series. Joe Root, with his experience and ability to anchor the innings, could play a crucial role in leading such an approach.In contrast to England's Bazball approach, India has shown a remarkable ability to adapt and overcome challenges. Their resilience and willingness to "run into the danger," as Stokes described his team's approach, were evident in their victory in the Brisbane Test during their last tour of Australia.India's current team, featuring several young and talented players, has the potential to dominate world cricket in the coming years. The emergence of players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubhman Gill, Dhruv Jurel, and Sarfaraz Khan is a testament to the strength of India's cricketing pipeline.While a 4-1 series victory for India seems likely at this stage, it is important to remember that anything can happen in cricket. If India decides to rest Jasprit Bumrah for the final Test, it could be seen as a sign of Bazball-like arrogance.Ultimately, there is much to be said for traditional strategies like retaining a winning combination, employing defense as a form of offense, and playing session by session. These approaches have stood the test of time and can be just as effective as the more aggressive Bazball style.