2024-02-19 23:57:23
New Delhi: 12 May 2022, this is the date on which Brendon McCullum was made the head coach of the England Test team. An explosive batsman in the white ball format, the former captain of New Zealand, who was the head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL till a few months ago, his sudden joining of England’s ‘Test team’ seemed strange to many people. But this was the beginning of a new era for England. Under the coaching of Brendon McCullum and captaincy of Ben Stokes, England now started playing Test matches in T-20 style. Attacking batting, attacking bowling, attacking planning, everything is attacking. This attacking brand of cricket of England, Baseball, also got its name from McCullum’s nickname ‘Baz’. Since May 2022, England had started the India tour by winning 13 out of 18 matches. That means 72% winning percentage in 19 months, but little did they know that Indian lions were sitting here to hunt them.
Why is it necessary to change strategy?
After winning the first match of the five-Test series, England has now lost two consecutive Tests. The fourth match will be played in Ranchi from 23 February. England are in danger of losing their first Test series after adopting the baseball style. The British are falling into the trap of the Indian team, which has not lost a single Test series at home since 2012-13. England always needs to play according to the situation of the match instead of playing aggressive strategy. The English dressing room needs to understand that baseball is as much about attacking as it is about bearing pressure.
India created history by defeating England in Rajkot, recorded the biggest win in Test by 434 runs.
Baseball style’s most embarrassing defeat
Things went from bad to worse for England after winning the series opener in Hyderabad. The batsmen of the visiting team played poor shots, due to which the host team got the advantage. India registered its biggest win in terms of runs in Test cricket by defeating England by 434 runs in Rajkot. Chasing India’s target of 557 runs, the England team collapsed for 122 runs. This was the worst defeat under the leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum and exposed their tactics.
Sarfaraz Khan made a record in his debut test, blew England away
Learn England from our new boys
Young batsmen for India, Yashasvi Jaiswal, who scored two double centuries in the series, Shubman Gill and debutant Sarfaraz Khan played mature innings in Rajkot and spent time at the crease before playing their shots. India scored a total of 875 runs in 228.5 overs. On the other hand, England’s batsmen kept throwing their wickets. Batsman Joe Root, who was struggling with poor form, was out in the third Test after being caught at second slip by Root’s reverse scoop off the ball of Jasprit Bumrah, after which the collapse of England’s first innings started. At the time when Root took the shot, overall England gifted victory to India in the Rajkot Test. When Root played that shot, Ravichandran Ashwin was not on the field. India had one bowler less. Jadeja was playing despite injury. Bumrah was tired while bowling in the third consecutive Test. Overall, if England does not change the plan in the next two Tests, then the first series defeat since baseball style is certain.