IND v ENG 2024: “There is no glory in failure,” Geoffrey Boycott slams England’s 'Bazball' approach after Vizag Test loss

Besides Zak Crawley, no England batter managed to hit a half-century across both innings of the second Test.

England lost the second Test in Vizag by 106 runs | GettyEngland suffered a comprehensive 106-run defeat at the hands of India in the second Test in Visakhapatnam on Monday (February 5).

Chasing 399 to win, the visitors were 67/1 at the close of play on Day 3. However, the English batting line-up capitulated on the penultimate day to be bowled out for 292.

Besides opener Zak Crawley (76 and 73), no England batter managed to hit a half-century across both innings of the second Test. As a result, the five-match series is currently levelled at 1-1.

After the game, legendary cricketer Sir Geoffrey Boycott slammed England for their loss and called it a failure of their 'Bazball' approach.

For Boycott, there is no glory in failure as he suggested the team to play according to the situation.

"Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes are besotted with attack, attack, attack. It's as if they say 'if we can't win, we will go down in glorious failure instead.' But there is no glory in failure or defeat," Boycott wrote in his column on The Telegraph.

"Bazball is great entertainment when it comes off. But once you believe in an ideal over substance, then you have lost the plot. Today England gave the match away. Bazball was a failure," he added.

Boycott lashed out at Root for throwing away his wicket to a bad shot, knowing how crucial his role could have been in the chase.

"Scoring at five an over was entertaining but too many batsmen gave their wickets away after good starts. The best way to achieve a total of nearly 400 is by one of the batsmen scoring a big hundred. Looking to go after good bowlers and scoring quickly comes with risk. Bazball cost Joe Root his wicket. As soon as he came in, he was dancing down the pitch trying to hit it over the top and very soon swiped it up in the air. He only scored 16. England's best technical batsman is normally a busy player who scores at a good rate, but trying to go after the bowling as soon as he comes in takes him out of his comfort zone," he wrote.

Geoffrey Boycott felt England tried to play T20-style cricket in a Test and that led to their downfall. The 83-year-old asked the team to use some common sense and play as per the circumstances.

"Twenty20 cricket seems to have got in their head and made them think that every ball must be scored off with an aggressive stroke, sweep, swipe or cross-batted shot. Twenty20 is cricket's answer to baseball, where you attempt a big hit every time. England's batting resembled Twenty20."

"But why can't our team play positively and with common sense? Batting has always been about being able to adapt to the circumstances, whether that is conditions or the opponents. Pick your moments when to attack and defend," Boycott wrote.

The third Test is slated to get underway after an extended break on February 15 in Rajkot.

 
 

By Salman Anjum - 06 Feb, 2024

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