England head coach Brendon McCullum has stoutly defended his team’s highly controversial “Bazball” style of play as the misperceptions about the manner of play are “unfair” and “disrespectful” to players who toiled hard in bringing back life to the Test team.
McCullum on the Bazball Narrative
Since being appointed to lead England’s Test team in 2022, McCullum, together with captain Ben Stokes, has presided over a transformation. England had won only one of their last 17 Tests prior to his appointment, but soon became a team that played fearless, attacking cricket. That new brand of cricket soon became known as “Bazball” something which McCullum does not approve of.
Appearing on the For the Love of Cricket podcast, according to BBC Sport, McCullum emphasized that the image of Bazball as unhinged hitting and free-wheeling play does Bazball a disservice.
I get a little bit the feeling there’s a bit of misunderstanding about how we play, that we just swing the bat as hard as possible, attempt to pick up wickets and then go off and play golf and have beers,” McCullum said. “I find it a bit disrespectful to the support staff and players who work so hard, and who have such desire to win, to have it lumped in like that.”
Freedom Over Rigidity
McCullum explained that Bazball was never a strict template but rather a space wherein players may do their thing without the fear of failure.
“For us, it’s about making an environment that enables players to cope with the pressures of playing for their country,” he said. “You want your talent to come through. I detest seeing talent being crushed. A belief in how you want to play gives you your best opportunity to be successful but you can’t do that if you’re tied down by negativity.”
It is this philosophy, underlines McCullum, which has been the key to England’s resurgence in Test cricket. Rather than being obsessed with strike rates and big scores, the focus has been on building confidence and direction within the team.
Why Test Cricket Was the Right Fit
Looking back on his appointment, McCullum conceded he never thought himself appropriate for a white-ball coaching assignment at the time. England’s ODI and T20I teams were already performing well under Eoin Morgan and subsequently Jos Buttler, with the Test team needing redefinition.
“I sensed the Test team was better suited to my ability to give players confidence, freedom, and courage,” said the former New Zealand skipper. “The white-ball unit already required a person to get them from good to great, and that wasn’t where I could provide the most value.”
McCullum, for his own aggressive batting in his playing days, was named the white-ball coach in January this year, but asserts that his heart and instincts are in providing Test cricket with a new soul and identity.
The Journey Ahead for England Under McCullum
Though there have been arguments against Bazball, McCullum’s stint has irreversibly altered the landscape of England’s Test cricket. His emphasis on positivity, freedom, and fearlessness continues to influence the team’s performances.
As McCullum summed up: “It’s about soul, purpose, and freedom that’s what we’ve tried to give this team, and that’s far more than a label like Bazball can capture.”
