Many inches have been given to England’s bold and daring new approach to Test cricket since Brendon McCullum’s arrival as head coach in June.
‘Bazball’ caught the attention of the home crowd this summer as chasers of 277, 299 and 296 were easily dismissed in consecutive matches against New Zealand, before England’s record 378 against India.
On the evidence of five exciting days of Test cricket in Pakistan – and on excellent pitches, too – England’s partnership with McCullum was not just a summer affair.
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Highlights from the fifth day of the first Test between Pakistan and England in Rawalpindi
In both innings with the bat, the visitors scored at an unprecedented rate more than running the ball (6.50 in the first innings, 7.36 in the second).
It was the first time in Test history that more than 500 runs had been scored on the First Day of a Test, with four England batsmen making centuries – Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook – on another opening day.
But this is nothing more than praising the virtues of England’s aggressive new approach to their batting. No, ‘Bazball’ is common to every good move the team makes.
So far on this tour, at every possible moment, in every decision and in every part of the game, we have seen England take the right approach.
Let’s start with the formation of the Test-match winning team. To begin with, they took two players in Will Jacks and Liam Livingstone… both white ball masters, and one – the latter – did not play red ball cricket for 15 months.
England’s decisions in the longest form of the game have, for a long time, been safe – favoring skill over raw talent, sticking to the tried and tested or, in some cases, ‘re-tested’ – but the inclusion of Jacks and Livingstone, and Rehan Ahmed, 18, who is now eager to replace the injured Livingstone in the second Test, it only signals a change in approach.
Announcements. England were sweating it out on the fifth and final day in Rawalpindi with one wicket remaining against Pakistan as dusk fell, but even if Jack Leach hadn’t struggled with 10 minutes remaining, it wouldn’t have been a game. want to try.
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Jack Leach takes the last wicket to seal England’s victory over Pakistan in the first Test
Through a brave captaincy and, again, on very smooth pitches, England gave Pakistan an enticing 100-plus overs to chase down 343 – at the same place where they scored 579 in the first innings and where. England hit the ball to all corners.
It is a tradition for journalists and former players who push the words of courage, courage to those who are on the field, and be critical when, instead, a shameful way is done to ensure that one result – defeat – is removed from the game.
It is easy to judge in this way without fear of criticism, retribution. In order for Ben Stokes to do this, to ‘risk losing a good chance to win’ and not just talk like a speech, he took heart that he likes which is not only known but which was also shown in the way they all jumped. his side followed that announcement and led from the front with his tireless bowling.
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Michael Atherton says England’s 74-run win in the first Test against Pakistan in Rawalpindi is one of England’s best ever victories.
About Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain, Test cricket leadership has never been better.
“You think you’ve seen everything in this game – until you see the last five days,” Hussain said after England’s 74-run win. in 2000.
“There was no reason on the featherbed that there should be a result, so I think it was the best captaincy in Test cricket I’ve ever seen to get 20 wickets. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a better captaincy week.”
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Ben Stokes says England have achieved something ‘very special’ after beating Pakistan by 74 runs in the first Test.
He added: “England had to sort it all out and he had to walk after the talks and said he wasn’t going to play.
“Stokes is [head coach Brendon] McCullum is taking the public eye on Test cricket. He has changed the mindset of the England team and this time it is changing the face of Test cricket. “
It was a point made at McCullum’s first press conference this summer. This bold new performance was either a win over a couple of home Tests this summer, amazing as they were, or an opening win over Pakistan, as it was.
McCullum said at the time: “Test cricket needs England to be strong, competitive and play a spectacle. If not, they are in deep trouble.
“I think Test cricket has been going down a bit and the only people who can really change it are England. To appreciate Test cricket in this part of the world, history.
Friday 9 December 4:30 am
“He has a real chance to make a big difference and hopefully inspire cricketers to want to play Test cricket instead of T20 or the shorter forms of the game.”
Job done. And bring on the second Test.
What’s next?
The second test is held in Multan from Friday (build-up starts at 4.30am on Sky Sports Cricket and Sky Sports Main Event ahead of first ball at 5am) with Pakistan looking to clinch the game ahead of the final in Karachi from December 17, also available on Sky Sports.
