‘Bazball in a fix’: Former cricketers react after England’s 434-run defeat to India in Rajkot

England and their ‘Bazball’ approach have come under heavy scrutiny following their 434-run defeat to India in the third Test in Rajkot on Sunday.

Initially ahead in the game, a resounding comeback with bat and ball from India forced England onto the backfoot in an eventual 557-run chase. The tourists folded for 122, handing India their biggest-ever Test win by runs. It was also England’s heaviest Test defeat in 90 years.

The result that put England 2-1 behind India in the five-match series, drew widespread criticism from former England cricketers and journalists.

Stokes defends Bazball and Root’s scoop

“Our batting line-up is full of international class players. We give them the freedom to play what’s in front of them,” Stokes said after the defeat.

However, Stokes who was featuring in his 100th Test, observed that Joe Root’s first-innings dismissal to a ramp shot against Jasprit Bumrah was a turning point.

“Yeah, because he got out to it, definitely was a turning point. Joe Root’s scored nearly 12,000 runs, I think we can leave the decision-making and ‘why’ with Joe. I can understand why there would be frustration around that because of how good a player Joe is,” Stokes said.

‘Cardinal Sin’

Root’s dismissal drew ire from former England captains Geoffrey Boycott and Michael Vaughan.

“It looks clever when it comes off. When it doesn’t, it’s embarrassing and you look a chump. What a wasted wicket by such a talented player,” Boycott told Telegraph Sport.

Meanwhile, Vaughan took to social media and said: “Joe is far too good to gift India such a cheap wicket 20 mins into a crucial day when they are down to 10 players.”

Former England skipper Nasser Hussain questioned the time of Root’s execution. “Now, I don’t have a problem with him playing that stroke, because it’s one he’s executed very effectively in the past,” Hussain wrote in his column for The Daily Mail.

England lost the last 18 wickets for 234 inside 75 overs .. a warning sign to them in tough conditions against a good side that if you give them a sniff things can escalate very quickly .. India have been brilliant this last 2 days .. #INDvENG

— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) February 18, 2024

“But, when Ravichandran Ashwin is missing, when Ravindra Jadeja is being eased back into cricket by his captain. When Root’s nemesis of recent times in Jasprit Bumrah is playing his third Test in a row amid talk of needing a rest, I would question the timing of it.”

The London Telegraph writer Scyld Berry labelled Root’s dismissal as a ‘cardinal sin’ in Indian conditions. “Root’s reverse-scoop at India’s most dangerous bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, wrecked England’s chances of winning this Test and this series,” wrote Berry.

“The cardinal sin in India is to give a wicket away, because one wicket usually brings two, or a cluster. Root made life difficult for Duckett. He made it impossible for Jonny Bairstow, who came in with fielders round the bat, the crowd stirred up, and immediately succumbed to India’s wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav. The wickets continued to tumble from there.”

One-dimensional Bazball

Vaughan also pointed out that Bazball’s one-dimensional approach may have been exposed in Indian conditions where the hosts have not beaten in a Test series in 12 years. “Even when this England team have lost in the last two years, you have always been able to take positives. Or they haven’t been hammered. This is looking like a wake up call that surely sends a message you can’t just play one way against quality teams,” Vaughan wrote on X.

England will take on India in the fourth Test in Ranchi from Friday.

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