Former England spinner and commentator Graeme Swann extended his support to the Ben Stokes-led Test team after their embarrassing defeat against India in the third Test in Rajkot.
Swann believes that the fans overreacted following England's 434-run defeat to India in the Rajkot Test, which put them 1-2 down in the ongoing five-match Test series. He compared this heavy defeat with a “car crash” but still backed the team’s ‘Bazball’ approach.
The former spinner further stressed that England must continue with their aggressive style of play to stage a comeback in the ongoing Test series. The fourth Test of the series will be played on February 23 at the JSCA Stadium in Ranchi.
Graeme Swann said on talkSPORT Cricket’s The Breakfast Today Show: “We are English, and so we are absolutely overreacting. I am a huge believer in the way England played. Call it Bazball, call it proactive cricket, or whatever you want, but over the last couple of years, we have won more Test matches. But when it does not look right, it does look like an absolute car crash.”
Swann further highlighted that England's success in the past 24 months has been a result of their ‘Bazball’ approach. Hence, he advised Stokes and his team not to dwell too much on the Rajkot setback, but focus on how to make a comeback against India.
He signed off by saying, “Yesterday was a very messy end to the Test match, but I’m with Ben Stokes. What he says ‘This is our brand of cricket, and it’s not always going to work, but we are going to stick to our guns’. So, I think we can accept things like that brilliant Ben Duckett hundred. 10 years ago, he would have been kicked out and chased out of the country. So, I think we have overreacted badly.”
