Indian spin veteran Ravichandran Ashwin has launched a scathing critique of England's much-debated 'Bazball' approach, questioning the sheer recklessness of their batting after a dramatic collapse in the first Ashes Test against Australia.
Ashwin's Blunt Assessment of England's Batting
The match, played in Perth, saw England suffer a humiliating defeat after a spectacular second-innings meltdown. From a comfortable position of 65 for 1 at lunch on Day 2, with a lead exceeding 100 runs, England were bundled out for a mere 164. This wasn't an isolated failure, as their first innings had also yielded a paltry 172 runs.
On his YouTube channel, Ashwin didn't hold back, asking, "But how reckless will reckless suffice?" He expressed concern that the constant justification of aggressive play under the Bazball umbrella was stretching the definition of recklessness to its breaking point. "If you keep putting everything into that bandwidth, how reckless can even reckless get?" Ashwin pondered.
The Anatomy of a Collapse
Ashwin provided a detailed breakdown of where the game was lost for England. He highlighted that after being "knocked out for 172" on the first day, their bowling attack fought back valiantly to secure a 40-run lead. According to the Indian off-spinner, the primary duty of the batting unit at that point was to give their bowlers adequate rest.
He referenced the philosophy of Indian coach Rahul Dravid, stating, "Rahul bhai always says, give your bowlers overnight rest and see how your bowlers respond." Instead, the English batsmen frittered away their advantage. "In no time they are back on the park looking to defend 200, which is paltry," Ashwin remarked, emphasizing how quickly their bowlers were forced back into action.
A Hammering Despite Australian Injuries
Making England's performance even more concerning was the fact that Australia was missing its key pace duo. Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood were sidelined due to injuries, significantly weakening the home side's bowling attack.
Ashwin was unequivocal in his verdict: "In my view, England, minus Pat Cummins minus Hazlewood have been hammered, and truly hammered, after they put on a show and thinking Bazball has come to town. They have been hammered for reckless cricket." He acknowledged commentator Michael Vaughan's hope for an English comeback but warned, "I hope they do, because this will become a very, very, very long tour otherwise."
His words proved prophetic as Australia, needing 205 to win, completed the chase with ease, powered by Travis Head's blistering 123 runs from just 83 balls. The defeat has ignited a fresh debate about the sustainability of England's ultra-aggressive strategy in the longest format of the game.
