Australia overcame England’s infamous 'Bazball' style to win the Ashes 2023 opener at Edgbaston on Tuesday (June 21).
After adopting the ultra-aggressive approach, England won 11 out of 13 Tests under the leadership of skipper Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum. However, it backfired in the first Ashes Test against the Australian side, which won the World Test Championship title earlier this month.
At Edgbaston, England declared their first innings at 393/8 after 78 overs on Day 1 when Joe Root was batting on 118 not out. After securing a tiny 7-run lead, the hosts came out swinging in their second innings, posting 273 even without any of their batters reaching fifty.
However, the Pat Cummins-led side abide by the traditional style to register a narrow two-wicket victory. Skipper Cummins himself played a vital role in Australia’s win, hitting an unbeaten 44 and sharing an unbroken partnership of 55 runs for the ninth wicket with Nathan Lyon (16*) to take his side home in the chase of 281.
After the game, former Australia head coach Justin Langer said Cummins’ composure is a perfect antidote to England’s ‘Bazball’ approach of playing Test cricket.
“Questions have been raised before, and indeed during this Test match, on what the antidote to Bazball might be. The Australian captain just showed the world; it is ice in the veins. Cummins showed that with the first ball of the series, and again last night on the last ball of the match. This time with a bat in his hands," wrote Langer in his column for The Daily Telegraph.
“Australia reminded us here that they are the No 1 Test team in the world for a reason. They trust their method. As they should. It works and they win consistently. For Cummins to keep his composure after a difficult first day, first ball even, showed the class of the man, especially in making his highest score for five years," he added.
Langer also praised Lyon for holding the one end when England were inching closer to victory in the final session.
“Australia also have a key strength: Nathan Lyon. I thought he bowled brilliantly in this Test. Not only does he bowl a lot of overs and shoulder the load for the fast bowlers, but he also takes important wickets. He can also make a few handy runs, as England learnt at the death."
Langer also mentioned that not having a quality spinner played a part in England’s defeat.
“In this series though, if the summer remains dry and the pitches flat, Lyon will continue to rise. England’s lack of a class, or fit, spin bowler is certainly a major weakness in their make-up. This was evident at Edgbaston. Playing Moeen Ali was always a risk."
“It was a risk England were willing to take, but like a marathon, Test cricket is about endurance, and it is hard to run a marathon, or play Test cricket, without the required conditioning. Ali’s spin finger is testament to this fact."
Langer expects Australia to stick to their approach for the remainder of the Ashes series.
“That said, I believe the Australians will continue with this approach when the conditions are as flat and lifeless as they were at Edgbaston. In Pakistan earlier last year they kept grinding. Discipline and calmness were their mantra. Success followed."
