The aggressive ‘Bazball’ strategy used by England in a dramatic fourth Test at Old Trafford, Manchester, astounded former Australian opener and head coach Justin Langer. Because of the weather, the game ended in a tie, but Justin Langer praised England’s aggressive style of play, saying it could destroy even the best bowling attacks.
Especially in the second half of the game when Jonny Bairstow began his unrelenting onslaught, Langer was astounded by how England forced the visitors to consider why they lost. If Australia had decided to play without a spinner, Langer acknowledged that they would have struggled more.
Justin Langer expressed the following in his Telegraph column:
The most breathtaking cricket I have witnessed in a very long time was played there. It proved to me that this type of play could succeed against the best bowling attack in the world and was really spectacular to watch.
Although England’s “Bazball” strategy was effective in the fourth Test, Langer noted that it had not been as successful in the first two Tests. He stated:
“What I saw was a team that provided breath-taking moments as well as moments of utter recklessness. This time, they carried out their strategy exactly for three days before the rain rebelled.
Despite this, Langer applauded England for dominating Australia by removing the reckless parts from their game and displaying a well-thought-out strategy and winning formula. He was adamant that such a brutal strategy defeated even the finest teams, including the World Test Champions.
Justin Langer expressed optimism for another miraculous performance from England’s “Bazballers” as the Ashes series came to a close. The last match at The Oval ought to be a fitting conclusion given that England has a strong home record against Australia and hasn’t dropped a Test series since 2001.
Indeed, both sides’ excellent achievements during this Ashes series have served as a monument to the pure brilliance of Test cricket. With cricket fans eagerly anticipating England’s potential victory and a memorable end to an already riveting series, Justin Langer insights heighten the anticipation for the decisive game.