Dear Ben Duckett, I hope this letter finds you effectively. First of, all, commiserations on the loss within the third Test vs India in Rajkot. You had been distinctive within the first innings the place you constructed an excellent 153 off 151 balls. That was one electrifying innings of yours the place you dominated from Ball primary. Even Jasprit Bumrah couldn’t cease you. The authority with which you batted mirrored the true nature of the present type of cricket England have adopted within the Tests. Bazball, which you and the English media likes to name it.Â
We, exterior of England, haven’t any downside with it. You guys have created a mode of cricket that’s not often seen in a crew for such a very long time. And truthfully, congrataulations for that.Â
Test cricket has seen gamers like Virender Sehwag, Adam Gilchrist, Kevin Pietersen, and most not too long ago Rishabh Pant play with a way of urgency and readability of their head. But for a crew to collectively play the identical type might be the primary time. And I need to admit that whereas this model of cricket is hooked up with large dangers, like we noticed within the 2nd innings in Rajkot, persevering with to take these dangers reveals your braveness.
Also Read | Watch: Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Sensational Six-Hitting Spree Against James Anderson
Having mentioned that, your feedback after Day 3 did not land effectively in India and elsewhere, together with your personal nation. While nobody is denying that Bazball has really created a storm, to take undue credit score for any aggressive show of batting by the opponents doesn’t look nice on English cricket.
Jaisball supremacy _ _
Yashasvi Jaiswal _ scores one other mighty ton within the #IDFCFirstBankTestSeries! __#INDvENG #JioCinemaSports #BazBowled pic.twitter.com/FTufkA6YqJ— JioCinema (@JioCinema) February 17, 2024
While you rightly known as Yashasvi ‘a famous person within the making’ after his 100 within the second innings, you had been utterly unsuitable if you mentioned, “When you see players from the opposition playing like that, it almost feels like we should take some credit that they’re playing differently than how other people play Test cricket.”
Do you realize the strike price of Yashasvi earlier than this England sequence started? I’m assuming the reply is a ‘No’. So this is a fast look: Jaiswal had batted with a strike price of 75 thrice within the seven innings earlier than the house sequence vs you all. Two of those innings had been performed with strike price of over 120.
Yashaswi’s first-class common and Test strike price is nearing 70. The level is that this: whereas Yashasvi confirmed nice urgency and was helped by a lucid monitor to attain runs freely, additionally because of some poor bowling by England, if tomorrow the state of affairs arises the place he must dig in the entire day to save lots of a Test match, he’ll try this. This is enjoying for a draw or time. This, I’m fairly positive, you guys do not affiliate with Bazball.
Many of former English cricketers like Nick Knight, Michael Vaughan really feel that whereas Bazball is thrilling, one should admit that England have gotten carried away by the identify, at occasions. Remember that regardless of Bazball, you haven’t actually gained something substantial besides perhaps the sequence in Pakistan. Remember the Ashes? When you guys might have overwhelmed Aussies at residence?
England misplaced the final 18 wickets for 234 inside 75 overs .. a warning signal to them in robust circumstances in opposition to facet that when you give them a sniff issues can escalate in a short time .. India have been good this final 2 days .. #INDvENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 18, 2024
Even when this England crew have misplaced within the final 2 years you have got at all times been capable of take positives .. or they have not been hammered .. that is trying like a get up name that absolutely sends a message you’ll be able to’t simply play a method in opposition to high quality groups .. #INDvENG
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 18, 2024
Here’s what Vaughan mentioned in your crew’s efficiency after the Rajkot Test: “Even when this England team have lost in the last 2 years you have always been able to take positives .. or they haven’t been hammered … this is looking like a wakeup call that surely sends a message you can’t just play one way against quality teams.”
Vaughan additionally reminded you that simply because you have got began enjoying attacking cricket from the final two years, it doesn’t imply that the world was not enjoying this type ever earlier than. “Duckett also reckons they deserve credit for the way Yashasvi Jaiswal is batting, as if no player in history has ever played an attacking shot. They talk about not playing for the draw, but to me that’s disrespectful to Test cricket. The draw is a crucial part of the game, and in the five-Test contest has often provided the bedrock of some great series victories,” Vaughan mentioned.
Former England cricketer Nick Knight had warned you guys of not enjoying an ‘excessive’ model of ‘Bazball’ earlier than the sequence, underlining the setback England confronted in final Ashes. Knight wrote in his Dafa News column, “I am sure Indian fans are curious to see ‘Bazball’. I think they have watched England play this brand of cricket and are familiar with it. I think in the Ashes summer, the England team played extreme Bazball but now they must play a more refined Bazball to be effective. A refined ‘Bazball’ is to find the right moment to express yourself and put the opposition under extreme pressure. There were a couple of times in the Ashes series where they got the focus wrong. If they learn from that experience and find the right moment to fire, they can benefit from it. Perhaps when the condition suits England, you will see them attack the India bowlers. That will make for a great watch.”
I do know that any type of cricket is brutally criticised after a loss. But the crux of this open letter to you is to ship a reminder that England aren’t ‘inspiring’ the world but to play a sure type of cricket. Every crew has its personal DNA and it could not change in a single day. Various components like adjustments in home cricket, nature of pitches, board’s phrase have a task to play on how a crew performs on the bottom.
So, whereas England are free to play Bazball and hopefully they attain the highest enjoying it and dominate the world cricket too. But one should admit that Bazball remains to be a piece in progress. If you guys, go on to win a World Test Championship someday and two to a few groups resolve to completely undertake Bazball, then you’ll be able to take this credit score. For now, we’re glad enjoying Jais-Ball.Â
Thanks and regards,
A cricket fanatic.