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NEW DELHI: Australia cricket legend Steve Waugh has delivered a strong cautionary message to England ahead of the highly-anticipated Ashes series.
Waugh emphasised that England’s ‘Bazball’ strategy, masterminded by coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, could potentially result in adverse consequences if they fail to devise a contingency plan alongside their relentless pursuit of victory.
With a revamped aggressive approach, England’s ‘Bazball’ strategy has proved remarkably successful, securing triumph in an impressive 11 out of 13 Test matches.
But former Australia skipper Waugh feels the move won’t always work. “That is the big question mark over so-called Bazball. What is Plan B? Have they got a Plan B?” If they haven’t then they are going to be found out,” Waugh was quoted as saying in cricket.com.au.
“They have shown they are good enough to carry this style of cricket off but the ultimate test will be against a world-class bowling attack, which Australia has got,” he said.
Stokes had called for flat and fast pitches for the marquee five-Test Ashes series beginning at Edgbaston on June 16.
“It is exciting but to me the jury is out at the moment. Does (Bazball) hold up under scrutiny against a really good bowling attack in maybe challenging conditions?,” Waugh questioned.
Waugh, however, said he doesn’t expect England to give up the fearless approach.
“There is no doubt it won’t work all the time but I think with (coach Brendon) McCullum and (captain Ben) Stokes they will have the courage to go through with it,” Waugh said.
Waugh emphasised that England’s ‘Bazball’ strategy, masterminded by coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, could potentially result in adverse consequences if they fail to devise a contingency plan alongside their relentless pursuit of victory.
With a revamped aggressive approach, England’s ‘Bazball’ strategy has proved remarkably successful, securing triumph in an impressive 11 out of 13 Test matches.
But former Australia skipper Waugh feels the move won’t always work. “That is the big question mark over so-called Bazball. What is Plan B? Have they got a Plan B?” If they haven’t then they are going to be found out,” Waugh was quoted as saying in cricket.com.au.
“They have shown they are good enough to carry this style of cricket off but the ultimate test will be against a world-class bowling attack, which Australia has got,” he said.
Stokes had called for flat and fast pitches for the marquee five-Test Ashes series beginning at Edgbaston on June 16.
“It is exciting but to me the jury is out at the moment. Does (Bazball) hold up under scrutiny against a really good bowling attack in maybe challenging conditions?,” Waugh questioned.
Waugh, however, said he doesn’t expect England to give up the fearless approach.
“There is no doubt it won’t work all the time but I think with (coach Brendon) McCullum and (captain Ben) Stokes they will have the courage to go through with it,” Waugh said.
“They can’t chop and change. Have they got a back-up plan? I’m not sure. That might find them out.”
(With inputs from PTI)
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