England’s Ashes 2023 campaign got off to a negative start as they endured a two-wicket defeat at the hands of Australia at Edgbaston on Tuesday (June 20).
After the outcome in the series opener, batting legend Geoffrey Boycott came down heavily on England’s ultra-aggressive approach, famously dubbed as ‘Bazball’.
At Edgbaston, England declared their first innings at 393/8 after 78 overs on Day 1 when Joe Root was batting on 118. While the bold declaration triggered an outrage, the hosts managed to take a meagre 7-run lead by bowling out Australia for 386.
In the second innings, the Ben Stokes-led side came out swinging and posted 273 on the board, without any of their batters scoring fifty.
In his column for The Telegraph, Boycott slammed the current England team for prioritizing entertainment over winning.
“England have got carried away with Bazball and seem to think entertaining is more important than winning. But England supporters want one thing more than anything else -- to win the Ashes," Boycott wrote.
"Scoring fast runs, whacking lots of fours and sixes is lovely. It is great. But only if England do not lose sight of the big prize which is to beat Australia. If at the end of the series Australia go home with the Ashes we will feel sick, regardless of how much we have been entertained," he added.
The 82-year-old also expressed concern that England's approach might reduce the Ashes Tests to exhibition matches.
"If England are not playing to win, then these Ashes Tests are not that important. They are only exhibition matches. They have got it back to front. It is not about entertaining and then winning. It is about winning first."
"By all means entertain but cricket is like chess. There are moments when you need to defend. Sometimes you need to be patient and accept it. Do not just attack, attack, attack. England need a bit of common sense and pragmatism. That is all that is required. They do not have to change being positive because they are a better side than Australia and will win if they just show that common sense," he stated.
Boycott was left baffled by England's decision to declare their first innings when Root was batting brilliantly after hitting a ton.
"The rule is to get as many runs as you can when the pitch is good before it deteriorates. England might have scored another 40-50 runs with Root on a hundred and Ollie Robinson, who can bat, but declared to get a wicket."
Boycott was also critical of the home batters' approach in the second innings.
"When they batted in the second innings they went crazy. England were scoring at five and six an over but for some reason batsmen were trying to score at more than that and got themselves out.
"There were five: Ben Duckett, Root, Harry Brook, Jonny Bairstow and Moeen Ali. It was unnecessary."
The second Ashes Test will be played at Lord’s from June 28.
(With PTI Inputs)
