Has England Returned to Their Old Ways After 'Bazball with Brains' in Leeds?

Birmingham, July 7 (NationPress) Former England captain Michael Vaughan lamented the team’s 336-run loss to India during the current five-match series at Edgbaston, indicating that the home side reverted to their previous style of play after initially showcasing the ‘Bazball with brains’ approach at Headingley.

England had triumphed in the series opener in Leeds, achieving a remarkable chase of 378 runs by five wickets. However, in Birmingham, they were convincingly outperformed by India, allowing the visitors to equalize the series at 1-1 ahead of the upcoming match at Lord’s on Thursday.

“Let’s be honest, England has faced a severe defeat this week. Aside from about four hours on the third day when Harry Brook and Jamie Smith played exceptionally, India has completely dominated. It’s a performance that raises significant concerns for me,” Vaughan stated.

“I worry they have taken the first match as a definitive guide on how to approach Test cricket. They displayed remarkable skill in that victory, but luck was also a significant factor. Coming into this match, they seemed to believe they could replicate that performance, which ultimately backfired.”

“One should not entirely base their strategy on a single week’s performance, particularly when fortune has favored them. While luck can lead to wins, it does not secure victories in crucial series or the Ashes. This team possesses experience and must evolve and improve,” he added.

“This squad has brought us immense joy over the past three years, and they can achieve remarkable things in the coming six months. Following Headingley, it appeared they had made progress, which we dubbed as Bazball with brains. Unfortunately, this week, they returned to their previous disappointing tactics,” Vaughan noted in his column for The Telegraph.

He also recommended that England opener Zak Crawley study the batting style of India captain Shubman Gill to enhance his performance at Lord’s. Except for a score of 65 at Headingley, Crawley has struggled. Gill, on the other hand, commenced the series with a score of 147 and played a crucial role in India’s victory at Edgbaston with scores of 269 and 161.

“Many players have frustrated fans, including myself, over the years, but Crawley is among the most perplexing. From my experience watching, playing for, and reporting on England, he is among the luckiest players to have earned so many caps,” Vaughan remarked.

“He should feel fortunate to have participated in 56 matches while only securing five centuries and averaging 31. Of all openers in history with over 2,500 runs, he has the lowest average at 30.3. Crawley has batted 102 times in Test cricket and has been dismissed for single-digit scores 42 times.”

“Having demonstrated his capability at Headingley, Crawley had an excellent chance to refine his approach. However, it has been one step forward, two steps back. If he continues to attempt shots off deliveries outside off stump, he will persist in nicking off. If he can maintain the discipline he displayed at Leeds, he could have a successful year in Test cricket,” Vaughan observed.

“Change is achievable. Look at Shubman Gill. He entered this series with an average of 35, and four innings later, it stands at 42. He accomplished this by adjusting his mindset and strategy. He identified that he was susceptible to lbw and that his hands were away from his body.

“Now, he has been more compact, allowing him to bat for extended periods with improved control while still punishing loose deliveries. He has concentrated on defense before transitioning to attack,” Vaughan concluded.