COMING right at the back of India’s poor outing in the World Test Championship final against Australia, the English team’s bold approach towards batting in the first Ashes Test has served some food for thought for Team India think-tank. It was the positive outlook towards the game England have developed over the last few years that stood out as they amassed runs at an average of over five runs per over to reach nearly 400 on the first day itself. The method England’s batsmen adopted to attack the same Australian bowling line-up that troubled the Indians at The Oval had many lessons for Rohit Sharma’s team. The English lesson has also make one wonder whether the Indian batsmen are too defensive in their technique when it comes to facing genuine pace and swing. The ‘Bazball’ strategy that England like to call it had the Aussies on the backfoot despite the visiting bowlers making early inroads. It is a practice that England have imbibed in all the formats without caring too much for the outcome.

 

The strategy is attributed to chief coach Brendon McCullum who was a perfect practitioner of attacking batting during his playing days. That the New Zealander has transformed his approach in a strategy is quite creditable. More praise is deserved for McCullum for using the strategy with the English team who have been very rigid in changing their approach towards the modern game. The strategy and its successful use underlines the willingness of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to go for glory without thinking too much of the consequences. This assurance by the administrators has ensured tremendous confidence in the players who have taken to the ‘Bazball’ strategy with full force. And it is paying dividends, though a reversal in fortunes is always lurking around the corner with the bold approach. Yet, England are doing it and that too with resounding success. It brings a lesson and also an opportunity for India to change their fortunes in Test cricket. From being the Number One Test side in the world, India have been found wanting on many overseas tours in face of probing pace bowling.

 

Though India compensate for the average showing by dominating all visitors on turning tracks, it has not helped the team much in preparing for important events like the World Test Championship. In both the WTC finals, India finished the second best by a mile due to their inability to deal with quality bowling attack. If they go for the ‘Bazball’ strategy, then India stand to gain heavily, for, the modern players have the penchant for aggression against even the best of bowlers. It is now up to the BCCI to adopt aggression as a strategy and grant a licence to kill to the batsmen. Given the limited overs cricket influence on the current generation, it will only help India in commanding dominance in Test cricket. A few bad results should not matter.