Great article with good analysis - a really enjoyable read. I still think that Bairstow can't keep this up - especially considering the pitches are flat (mostly) and when England's top does collapse (regularly), then he will be exposed to a moving ball - if we remember how Bumrah dealt with him last year, I think he will struggle. Your thoughts?
At last. This is the first thing I've seen or heard which explains to me both how this revolution has happened and, more importantly, defines what the revolution really is. The analogy with Tyson's "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth" is brilliant. NOW I see what England are trying to do.
There were hints of this attitude in Sri Lanka, early last year, where Root got straight to the point, and swept and reverse-swept the Lankan spinners out of the game before they had a chance to implement their plans. Got his retaliation in first, if you will.
Indeed, after the first Test of that series, George Dobell offered the following headline:
"With Joe Root at the helm, have England fans ever had it so good?"
So, we've been having glimpses of Bazball before now - the door has been ajar for quite a while: we've just needed McCullum and Stokes to be given the word to kick it off its hinges.
I think the reverse sweep as a shot is the canary in the coal mine (for T20 and Tests) in terms of changing batting. And if batters can work that out for seam bowlers, a way to make their best balls punishable, then what do they have to fall back on. if you can't bowl line and length in red ball cricket, what is good bowling in that format?
Great article with good analysis - a really enjoyable read. I still think that Bairstow can't keep this up - especially considering the pitches are flat (mostly) and when England's top does collapse (regularly), then he will be exposed to a moving ball - if we remember how Bumrah dealt with him last year, I think he will struggle. Your thoughts?
At last. This is the first thing I've seen or heard which explains to me both how this revolution has happened and, more importantly, defines what the revolution really is. The analogy with Tyson's "Everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth" is brilliant. NOW I see what England are trying to do.
There were hints of this attitude in Sri Lanka, early last year, where Root got straight to the point, and swept and reverse-swept the Lankan spinners out of the game before they had a chance to implement their plans. Got his retaliation in first, if you will.
Indeed, after the first Test of that series, George Dobell offered the following headline:
"With Joe Root at the helm, have England fans ever had it so good?"
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/sri-lanka-vs-england-1st-test-with-joe-root-at-the-helm-have-england-fans-ever-had-it-so-good-1248345
So, we've been having glimpses of Bazball before now - the door has been ajar for quite a while: we've just needed McCullum and Stokes to be given the word to kick it off its hinges.
I think the reverse sweep as a shot is the canary in the coal mine (for T20 and Tests) in terms of changing batting. And if batters can work that out for seam bowlers, a way to make their best balls punishable, then what do they have to fall back on. if you can't bowl line and length in red ball cricket, what is good bowling in that format?