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New Delhi: Though they have over a weak to ponder on a morale-shattering defeat in Perth, England are unlikely to ditch their ultra aggressive ‘Bazball’ game-plan for the second Ashes Test against Australia in Brisbane from December 4.
In Brendon 'Baz' McCullum, they have a coach who has never believed in any other approach, other than relying on attacking instinct to win matches.
In Ben Stokes, he has a captain who is as convinced about that brand of cricket as him, even though it has flattered to deceive often in their three-year association as coach ans skipper.
They would only point to the last Ashes series in 2023 when they were two-nil down after the first two Tests but then fought back to draw the series 2-2 for their unshakeable belief though they haven’t won a series in Australia after losing the first match since the 1950s.
In 2022, they won against South Africa after going down 2-1 in the series opener at Lord’s and had Australia in a tight spot only to lose five wickets in 40 minutes to be on the wrong side of two-day mayhem as Bazbell boomeranged.
Many experts are unconvinced if Bazball could work on the traditionally pacey and bouncy Australian pitches against the discipline of home team’s bowlers.
"(Perth) may yet come to be regarded as the moment test cricket either redefined itself for the entertainment age or the precise point at which Bazball finally crashed into the unforgiving wall of Australian reality," former Australia skipper Greg Chappell wrote in an article for Sydney Morning Herald.
Those who endorse the high-risk approach argue that Travis Head's game-winning 69-ball ton was Bazball but only not by England.
The second match is a day-night affair, with only such previous matches finishing by the fourth day, making the touring team’s task that much tougher though they would again look to land the knockout punch early rather than try to last the full course of the match.
On the flip side, another quick defeat could may well raise serious questions of that is the right way to play in Australia.
