Neil Harvey, the 97-year-old former Australian captain and the oldest living Test cricketer, has delivered a sharp critique of England's much-discussed 'Bazball' approach following the recent Ashes series. The legendary batsman, a teammate of the great Sir Don Bradman, watched the 2026 Ashes with keen interest but was left distinctly unimpressed by the visiting English side's methods.
A Legend's Disappointment with Reckless Batting
In a candid interview with The Guardian, Harvey did not mince words about his feelings towards the England team that toured Australia. England trailed the five-match series 1-3 as the final Test entered its last day. Harvey, known in his playing days for his own attacking style, expressed that the modern English batters have taken aggression too far, lacking the patience to build an innings.
"I've been disappointed in England," Harvey stated. "I think the way they approach the batting side of things, they get too reckless. Nobody seems to want to build an innings, like a Colin Cowdrey or a Geoffrey Boycott." He argued that while such a high-risk style might succeed against weaker opposition, it fails against a top-class team like Australia, ultimately reducing the chances of winning crucial Test matches.
Bazball Takes the Odds Away from Winning: Harvey
Harvey's criticism stems from a deep understanding of Test match cricket's nuances. He emphasised that his issue is not with attacking play in principle, but with the inability to temper it when the situation demands. "I used to score runs relatively quickly, and everyone gets a lot of enjoyment out of it," he said. "But when you try to play this Bazball thing, it takes the odds away from winning an important Test. I'd like to see them pull their hooves in."
The veteran of 79 Tests and over 6000 runs between 1948 and 1963 also offered a broader critique of the international game. He lamented the dilution of quality, remarking, "There are so many poor cricket teams playing international cricket, I only wish I'd have played against them."
Praise Reserved for Classical Modern Masters
Despite his reservations about the current trend, Harvey acknowledged the excellence of batsmen who adhere to classical techniques. Unsurprisingly, he named New Zealand's Kane Williamson and England's own Joe Root as the standout performers of the modern era. "They've been the best batsmen for quite some time," Harvey noted, adding, "I guess it's time someone else took a bit of responsibility and challenged them for that."
Harvey's perspective, shaped by decades of experience at the highest level, provides a fascinating historical counterpoint to cricket's evolving philosophies. His comments underscore the enduring debate between unwavering aggression and the timeless values of temperament and match awareness in the longest format of the game.
