Fearing for the effectiveness of turning tracks, India enters Bazball Universe. India hasn’t lost a Test series at home in almost a decade. Even the all-conquering West Indies and Australia sides of the past could not match India’s 16 straight victories since Alastair Cook’s England came back to defeat them 2-1 in a four-match series. With only three Test losses at home, they have appeared genuinely unbeatable for the past twelve years, with the majority of their XI still in place. 14 captains have tried to win a series here, starting with Pat Cummins in 2023 and ending with Michael Clarke in 2013. Only three of them, Steve Smith, Joe Root, and Cummins, have at least prevailed in a Test match at this venue.
Everything suggests that this series might be the most difficult one for India as the Bazball arrives in the country, with the first Test scheduled to start on Thursday in Hyderabad. India are a team in transition, much like in 2012 when Andy Flower and Cook orchestrated an incredible series victory, beating the hosts in their own game. They will also be without Virat Kohli for the first two Tests in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam, which means they will only have the combined experience of their No. 3, 4, 5, and 6 Tests. And adding to their complexity is the English Bazball method, which is giving them a lot to think about.
Although India has primarily favoured playing on turners since the World Test Championship began, it is unclear if they will continue with this strategy ahead of the England series. England, led by Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, has abandoned all Test cricket traditions. In the Bazball universe, there is no such thing as following something just because it has historically been the norm.
Since the start of the World Test Championship, India has mainly preferred to play on turners; however, it is uncertain if they will stick to this plan in front of the England series. Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s England have renounced all Test cricket customs. There is no such thing as following something just because it has always been done that way in the Bazball universe.
England’s overall bat strike rate in the 24 games since McCullum took over and changed the way they play Test cricket is 75.48. Australia’s is 54.14 and India’s is 54.57 for the same time period.
The way England bats, never taking their foot off the pedal, has caught opposition bowlers off guard. Their aura is further enhanced by the surrounding buzz and noise. Before McCullum and Stokes took over, they had only won once in 17 games; they have now won 13 of the next 18, three of those in Pakistan and one in New Zealand. Thus, this isn’t limited to the house. Naturally, the next five in India will be a tough test, particularly given the circumstances in which the Bazball has not yet been used.
And India is a little concerned about this unidentified factor. They are huddled in conversations, oblivious to what is to come. Everything suggests that India will have a great game in Hyderabad, but it’s acknowledged that this could easily become a series in which the home team will win handily every time. Even though India’s spin unit of R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Axar Patel will be heavily relied upon, there is discussion about whether playing on turners could narrow the gap between the two teams, particularly in light of India’s fragile middle order.
A quick-fire innings from a batsman has proven to make a big difference on turning pitches, aside from toss becoming an important factor. Even India’s batsmen are known to adopt this strategy in these kinds of situations before depending on the three spinners to perform their duties with the bat. Though England’s No. 1 to No. 11 follow it to the letter in this high-risk match, there is more reason to be afraid of this approach because the game could unravel far faster than India has at home.
India currently thinks that because all of the venues have black soil pitches, England’s batting might be restrained by the pitch’s lack of bounce and pace. Such tracks, where the batting unit must exert force to keep up, may also somewhat undermine England’s strategy of using taller batsmen with long reach against spinners.
Even the question of whether India should return to their conventional flat decks—which they defeated Australia, New Zealand, and England with in the 2016–17 season—was discussed. However, even that has a certain amount of risk, particularly with Bazball. Aside from the fact that it could be dangerous to bat last on a surface that is deteriorating, the Bazball has flourished in particular under these circumstances. Even in their native England, they no longer play on green tracks, choosing instead to use flat decks that are more suited to the country’s strike producers.
According to Jasprit Bumrah, “I don’t really relate to the term Bazball,” Guardian would learn. However, they are demonstrating to the world that there is another approach to playing Test cricket by playing successful cricket and adopting an aggressive style of taking on the opposition. I believe that as a bowler, it keeps me in the game. And if they’re playing fast and aggressively, they won’t wear me out, and I could get a tonne of wickets. I’m constantly considering how I can make the most of things. Bravo to them, but you play the game as a bowler. That is one perspective, though, and India is a cause for concern.
It’s made more intriguing by the fact that they are playing their largest test in more than ten years without their best batsman. Of course, there are still plenty of reasons to think that India can continue their winning streak at home given the quality of their spinners, which include Kuldeep Yadav. India should be even more optimistic if their batting unit performs well without their best Test batsman, given that Australia was able to contain the Bazball until Nathan Lyon was available during the Ashes last year.
