Cricket

Ravichandran Ashwin, India's star spinner, has weighed in on England's controversial "Bazball" approach, which has sparked heated debates in the cricketing world. Ashwin, who emerged as the highest wicket-taker in the recently concluded five-match series against England, believes that Bazball is not merely about aggressive batting but also involves a lack of defensive strategy.Ashwin expressed surprise at Joe Root, renowned for his impeccable batting technique, embracing the Bazball approach. "Bazball isn't just aggressive cricket. It is defenseless cricket," Ashwin stated on his YouTube channel. "They aren't going to play a defensive shot at all. They are going to get out if they play defense."Ashwin also criticized England's overconfidence, particularly James Anderson's assertion that they could chase down a target of 600 in the second Test. "James Anderson went into a press conference and told the press that even if the 4th innings target was 500 or 600, we'll finish it in 60 overs," Ashwin said. "It felt like they had gone too far."England's coach, Brendon McCullum, has acknowledged the need for adjustments to the Bazball approach. "Sometimes, you can get away with things," McCullum admitted. "But when you're exposed the way we have been in the back end of this series in particular, it does require some pretty deep thinking and some adjustment."Ashwin's analysis highlights the complexities of the Bazball approach. While it has led to some spectacular victories for England, it has also exposed their vulnerability to disciplined bowling. The debate over Bazball is likely to continue as teams seek to find the right balance between aggression and defense.

Geoffrey Boycott, the legendary England cricketer, has urged selectors to prioritize the future and phase out 41-year-old pace maestro James Anderson. Boycott's plea comes after Anderson's historic achievement of 700 Test wickets against India.While acknowledging Anderson's remarkable longevity and skill, Boycott believes it's time to prepare younger seamers for the upcoming Ashes series in Australia, where Anderson will be 43. He advocates for giving opportunities to emerging talents like Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts."England cannot keep wrapping him in cotton wool and picking him on sentiment forever," Boycott asserted. "In a year-and-a-half, England's next big challenge will be going to Australia to try and win back the Ashes."Boycott also criticized England's current bowling lineup, describing it as lacking potency and intimidation. He singled out inexperienced spinners Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir, an "ineffectual" Mark Wood, and an unfit Ben Stokes."It would not frighten anyone: two raw kids in Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir with little first-class bowling as spinners, an ineffectual fast bowler in Mark Wood who just bangs the ball into the track with little movement," Boycott criticized.The former cricketer also lamented England's batting struggles against Kuldeep Yadav, expressing surprise at their inability to counter the spinner's deliveries.Boycott concluded by casting doubt on England's ability to learn from their defeat to India, suggesting they might revert to their usual form against weaker opponents."Stokes says they will learn from this tour. I am not convinced. They will go back home and revert to type and beat ordinary West Indies and Sri Lanka teams and India will be forgotten as a distant memory," Boycott remarked.

James Anderson Enters Elite Club with 700th Test WicketJames Anderson, the legendary English fast bowler, has etched his name into the annals of cricket history by becoming only the third bowler to claim 700 wickets in Test matches. The 41-year-old achieved the remarkable milestone on Saturday during the fifth Test against India in Dharamshala.Anderson's historic moment came when he dismissed Kuldeep Yadav, edging a delivery outside off stump. The veteran pacer celebrated with his teammates as the crowd erupted in a standing ovation. Anderson had entered the series just 10 wickets away from the landmark and started the final match with 698 scalps.The Lancashire-born bowler made his Test debut in 2003 against Zimbabwe at Lord's. Since then, he has played 187 matches, taking 700 wickets at an average of 26.94. Anderson's exceptional ability to swing the ball both ways has earned him the nickname "swing king." He has 32 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket, including a career-best 7/42 against Pakistan in 2010.Anderson's achievement is a testament to his longevity and consistency at the highest level. He has played a pivotal role in England's success over the years, helping them win the Ashes four times and the ICC World Test Championship in 2023.Anderson's 700th wicket places him behind only two other bowlers in Test history: Sri Lanka's Muttiah Muralitharan (800 wickets) and Australia's Shane Warne (708 wickets). The English pacer is now the first fast bowler to reach the milestone.

Modern Cricketers Embrace Fearlessness, Gill's Audacious Shot Stuns EnglandIn the annals of Test cricket, batsmen have traditionally approached the early stages of the day with caution. However, the modern era has witnessed a shift towards a more aggressive mindset, with players unafraid to take risks against even the most formidable bowlers.This fearless approach was on full display during the second day of the fifth Test between India and England at Dharamshala. In just the fourth over of the day, England's leading wicket-taker James Anderson was steaming in, looking to make an early breakthrough.Undeterred, India's Shubman Gill charged down the pitch and lofted Anderson's full delivery at 131 kmph straight down the ground into the crowd. The audacity of the shot left commentator Harsha Bhogle in awe, prompting him to speculate about Gill's breakfast that morning.Even England captain Ben Stokes couldn't help but nod his head in amazement and approval. The official broadcaster shared the video of the shot, which quickly went viral on social media.Gill's fearless approach paid off as he went on to score 110 before being clean bowled by Anderson after lunch. However, his audacious shot set the tone for the day and demonstrated the changing nature of Test cricket.Modern batsmen are no longer content to play defensively and wait for the bowlers to make mistakes. They are willing to take risks and put pressure on the opposition from the outset. This shift in mindset has made Test cricket more exciting and unpredictable than ever before.

The absence of Virat Kohli has cast a long shadow over the India-England Test series, with legendary England pacer James Anderson expressing his disappointment at missing out on a chance to face the Indian batting maestro.Kohli opted out of the series citing personal reasons, having recently welcomed his second child with wife Anushka Sharma. Anderson, who has engaged in several memorable on-field battles with Kohli, lamented the star batter's absence."Yeah, you always want to play against the best players. And it's been a shame that he's not been a part of the series. We have had some great battles over the years," Anderson said on JioCinema.Anderson acknowledged that Kohli's absence may have been a relief for England fans, but he emphasized the importance of facing the world's best players."I guess English fans will be thankful he's not playing because he's such a quality player. But from our point of view you want to test yourself, you want to come up against the best and he's been someone who I've found really challenging to bowl at over the years and it's a shame he's not been playing," Anderson added.India have already secured an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series, with the fifth and final Test set to be played in Edgbaston. India's pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah will return for the final Test, while batter KL Rahul will miss out again due to a quad injury.Despite Kohli's absence, the series has been marked by intense competition and high-quality cricket. England will be looking to salvage some pride in the final Test, while India will aim to complete a memorable series victory.