Former England captain Nasser Hussain has urged the England cricket team to stick to their “Bazball” approach of playing the game, despite their heavy 434-run defeat to India in the third Test at Rajkot. Hussain emphasized the need for introspection and urged the team to focus on basics such as taking catches and making big scores in the first innings as they trail 2-1 in the five-match series against India.
In his column for Daily Mail, Hussain stressed the importance of not moving away from England’s successful philosophy, but also encouraged the team to review their performance in the last couple of matches and find ways to improve. He highlighted England’s missed opportunities, including dropped catches and poor fielding, that allowed India to dominate the game and ultimately secure the victory.
Hussain also pointed out specific errors, such as Joe Root’s miscued reverse-ramp shot that triggered a first-innings collapse for the visitors. He questioned the timing of Root’s shot, emphasizing the need for England to absorb pressure and recognize opportunities to grind out a score, especially when the opposition has a bowler down.
The former captain emphasized that “Bazball” is not just about attacking, but also about absorbing pressure and making strategic decisions to boss the game. He called for England to make India miss their key players and recognize opportunities to assert dominance on the field.
Overall, Hussain’s message to the England team is clear: stick to the “Bazball” approach, but also pay attention to the details and make necessary improvements in their game plan.
New Delhi, Feb 19 – After England’s heavy 434-run defeat to India in the third Test at Rajkot, former captain Nasser Hussain has urged the England cricket team to stick to their “Bazball” approach of playing the game and do introspection ahead of the next two games. England conceded a 126-run lead to India and were put under pressure in all departments to lose the match by 434 runs inside four days. England is now 2-1 behind in the five-match series against India.
“It’s one thing stopping an opponent’s momentum in a home series, and England’s record at home – even against Australia – is superb. In India, it isn’t as good. But if they do want things to change, it can’t just be a matter of ‘this is the way we play, we aren’t questioning ourselves’,” said Hussain.
He emphasized the need for England to review their performance in the last couple of matches and improve on basics such as taking catches and making big scores in the first innings. Hussain also highlighted specific errors, including missed chances and poor fielding, that allowed India to dominate the game. He also questioned the timing of certain shots by the England players, emphasizing the need to absorb pressure and make strategic decisions on the field.
Hussain’s message to the England team is to stick to the “Bazball” approach, but also pay attention to the details and make necessary improvements in their game plan to bounce back in the series.
