For the last few years there is a certain term doing rounds in world cricket. The whole cricket fraternity is amazed by this term. The term is known as “Baz-Ball”. Baz-Ball is not just a term it is an emotion. It is a way of expressing yourself without having a negative thought process. It is an emphasis on taking positive decisions in attack and defence whether batting or in the field. Brendon McCullum started Baz-Ball post covid era when Ben Stokes became England’s red ball captain and the term along with the style of plan spread like fire in no time. McCullum made everyone believe that Baz-Ball is here to stay.
Will the Baz-Ball tactics succeed in the shorter format of the game? Does England have what it takes to be crowned the kings of the world? Let’s find out.
England Squad for Champions Trophy 2025:
Jos Buttler (C/WK)
Jofra Archer
Gus Atkinson
Tom Banton
Harry Brook
Brydon Carse
Ben Duckett (WK)
Jamie Overton
Jamie Smith (WK)
Liam Livingstone
Adil Rashid
Joe Root
Saqib Mahmood
Phil Salt
Mark Wood
Strengths:
England’s strengths lie in their formidable batting line up which can go hammer and tongs right from ball one. The thing that works in their favour is that they are playing on flat tracks in Pakistan where they can even score 400. They have the batting to do so. Salt, Duckett, Root, Brook, Livingstone, Banton etc. The batting doesn’t seem to end and all of them play in a single gear. They do not believe in building the innings, all they know is to play swashbuckling cricket at the rate of 6 without letting any bowler settle. This might do wonders for England on flat pitches where there is no seam movement. If there is no spin on offer, England will go hell for leather and when English batters are on song, there is no better sight in world cricket. They can dismantle any potent attack in no time especially on flat decks where pitches are as flat as pancakes.
Weakness:
The biggest weakness in England’s current set up is lack of wicket taking bowlers. They have bowlers who can clock 145 without breaking a sweat but this is all what they can do. They do not have any variations to back it up with the pace they can generate. They were exposed in the recently concluded white ball series against India. Except Adil Rashid, there’s absolutely no one who can win a game on his own with the ball in his hand. This is going to cause England’s downfall in the Champions Trophy.
Player to watch out for:
Joe Root:
Root is the glue that binds attacking cricket and positive mindset together. If Root gets going there is no way England can end up with a below par total. Even if they bat second, they are bound to pose a serious threat no matter who the opposition is. Not to forget Root can bowl as well. He can give 5-6 overs easily if his captain demands. Root is coming back of an exceptional season in SA20 where he was one of the highest run scorers and among the top wicket takers. He played most of his games on a tough wicket where he applied himself. Root is technically so sound that once he is set, only person that can get Root out is Joe Root himself. He is so good that he can play 3-4 shots on the same length but that can lead to his downfall as well which has been the case in Test Cricket always since the implementation of Baz-Ball.
Predictions:
It is said that batters win you games, but bowlers win you tournaments and England’s bowling doesn’t pose a threat to any of the teams in their group, even Afghanistan who have been the 2nd best side in Asia for the last 18 months. If England are to advance in the competition, they need to bat out the opposition in each and every game and hope for the opposition to make mistakes when England comes to bowl. It is highly unlikely that England will cross the first hurdle as defeating Aus and SA is a very tough assignment to advance into the semis.
