Former English opening batsman Geoffrey Boycott has criticized England's performance in the 2nd Test between IND and ENG, labelling it as a failure. Boycott expressed his dissatisfaction with the team's high-risk approach, particularly highlighting their aggressive style known as "Bazball." Despite providing great entertainment, Boycott argued that Bazball lacks substance and does not guarantee success, ultimately leading to England's defeat in Vishakhapatnam.
In pursuit of a challenging target of 399 for victory, England's batsmen aggressively pursued their goal, accumulating 67 runs by Stumps on Day 3. However, the middle-order faltered on Day 4, and England eventually succumbed for 292, resulting in India leveling the series 1-1. Boycott criticized England for prioritizing an idealistic approach over a practical one, stating that the aggressive mindset of players like Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes is focused on constant attacking, even at the risk of a spectacular failure.
Boycott expressed his views in his column for The Telegraph, stating, "Bazball provides great entertainment when successful. However, when you prioritize an ideal over substance, you lose the plot. Today, England handed over the match, marking Bazball as a failure." He drew parallels with England's performance in the 2023 Ashes, where a similar aggressive batting style led to significant losses. Boycott emphasized that in Test cricket, it is runs that secure victories, not just playing with style.
Drawing from his experience as a 108-Test veteran, Boycott stressed the importance of adapting to circumstances in cricket, especially when chasing a substantial target. He highlighted the need for at least one batsman to score a big hundred, stating, "The most effective way to reach a total close to 400 is for one of the batsmen to score a substantial hundred." Boycott criticized the team's tendency to aggressively attack good bowlers and score rapidly, suggesting a more balanced approach that considers the conditions and opponents.
In his column, Boycott urged the team to play positively and with common sense, emphasizing the essence of adapting to circumstances, be it the conditions or the opponents. He encouraged the players to choose the right moments to attack and defend, suggesting that if a specific bowler is in good form, the batsmen should stay in and weather the storm.
Despite opener Zak Crawley's commendable performances with twin 70s in both innings, Boycott lamented the lack of support from other team members. He raised questions about England's ability to strike a balance between aggression and adaptability in upcoming matches.
With the series now leveled at 1-1, the third Test is scheduled to commence on February 15 in Rajkot. Boycott's critique adds a layer of scrutiny to England's approach, sparking discussions about their ability to find the right balance between aggressive play and adaptability in the upcoming matches.
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