‘Bazball’ is commanding TV time in Australia’s team hotel rooms but players won’t let England’s attacking approach and its potential Ashes implications occupy the back of their minds until after next year’s tour of India.
England have again captured the attention of world cricket this week, blasting 657 from 101 overs in their first innings against Pakistan in Rawalpindi.
In what finished as the fastest-scoring first innings in 145 years of Test cricket, England smashed 95 boundaries as three players scored centuries at quicker than a run a ball.
Dubbed as ‘Bazball’ after coach Brendon McCullum, England first turned heads during their home summer when they chased down targets at rapid rates in a no-fear approach to Test cricket.
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That in itself makes for a tantalising Ashes series next year in England, after Australia hammered their arch-rivals 4-0 at home last summer.
Australia’s captain Pat Cummins said he had watched England’s first innings with interest when back at the team hotel after play in his own team’s Test against West Indies.
Zak Crawley of England bats. (Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
“I found it good to watch. It brought back memories of bowling on that Rawalpindi wicket (when Pakistan hit 4-476 against Australia in March) and I felt a little sorer for it,” Cummins said. “It’s incredible what they did. So good on them.
“I think it is very wicket dependent. That wicket is unlike anything else in the world really. But it is something you have to be aware of (as bowlers). You just have to weather the storm occasionally.
“Some teams might want to take the game on and try and score at a good clip. That brings more chances. As long as you can keep your composure … and come up with some good plans.”
Asked when he would start weighing up how to best counteract England’s attacking nature for next year’s Ashes, Cummins was in no rush.
Australia have Tests against West Indies and South Africa this summer, before the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India and, potentially, a World Test Championship final ahead of the Ashes.
“After the Indian series (I’ll think about it),” Cummins said. “It’s a long way away.”
Cummins’ comments came after Steve Smith had wondered earlier this year how England’s batting would match up against Australia in the Ashes.
‘Bazball’ had become the talking point of Australia’s tour of Sri Lanka in July, but at the time Smith was less than convinced that England’s approach would stand up next year.
“I’m just intrigued to see how long it lasts, if it’s sustainable,” Smith said in July. “If you come on a wicket that’s got some grass on it and Josh Hazlewood, Cummins and Starc are rolling in at you, is it going to be the same? We’ll see what happens.”
Blues on top of Vics
Victoria lost five wickets in the opening session on day three to hand control of their Sheffield Shield match to NSW.
Three wickets fell in a dramatic two-over period not long before lunch on Saturday, leaving the Vics reeling at 6-151 at the break. They have since recovered to 7-237 with Campbell Kellaway reaching a half-century to lead by 186 runs.
A fired-up Chris Temain (2-33) removed Matt Short (one) and Will Sutherland (duck) in a double-wicket maiden, cashing in on the damage done by Chris Green (1-9) in the previous over.
Green trapped Nic Maddinson lbw after the left-hander smashed a quickfire 40 off 39 balls, including five boundaries and two sixes.
Earlier, Victorian captain Peter Handscomb (nine) and opener Ashley Chandrasinghe (26) fell to Mickey Edwards (1-31) and Sean Abbott (1-41) respectively.
Victoria had opened day three at 1-78 and the wickets tumbled despite good batting conditions under bright sunshine at Junction Oval.
Travis Dean (46) is Victoria’s top-scorer in their second innings after a welcome return to form.
But the opener was out lbw to Moises Henriques (1-11) before stumps on day two.
Victoria had Sam Harper and Jon Holland substituted out of the match on day two after they both tested positive for COVID-19.
Henriques (97) steered NSW to a first-innings lead of 51 but fell just short of a century when he was trapped lbw by Todd Murphy.
Both sides are still searching for their first win of the Shield season.
WA open up in style
Western Australia openers Cameron Bancroft and Sam Whiteman combined for a 90-run stand on day three of the Sheffield Shield clash with Queensland.
The competition leaders had resumed with their overnight score at 0-18 at the Gabba after Queensland declared at 6-295 just before stumps on day two. Rain had washed out the first day’s play.
Bancroft (63 not out) and skipper Whiteman (45) had to negotiate a difficult first session against a quality Bulls attack but showed plenty of patience and skill. They reached 2-158 midway through the afternoon session.
Michael Neser and Mark Steketee – both back in the Queensland team after representing the Prime Minister’s XI – bowled an immaculate line and length before Gurinder Sandhu dismissed Whiteman and Mitchell Swepson snared Sam Fanning for six.
Earlier, Bulls No.3 Bryce Street top-scored with 83 for the hosts while openers Matthew Renshaw (54) and Joe Burns (72) put on 116.
Western Australia left-armer Joel Paris (3-26 off 21 overs) and speedster Lance Morris (2-61 off 18) were a handful on day two.
There will be 112 overs bowled on day three and play started an hour earlier than scheduled to make up for the time lost on day one.
Midway through the Shield competition, Western Australia have asserted themselves as the early favourites after winning four of their opening five games to be top of the table on 31.85 points.
Tasmania are second on 20.54 with the Bulls close behind on 20.42.
Tassie set huge total by SA
Tasmania require 417 runs for victory in the Sheffield Shield clash in Hobart after South Australia were dismissed for 236 in their second innings.
Brendan Doggett (four) was the last man out shortly after lunch on day three at Blundstone Arena.
The visitors will fancy their chances of a win with more than 150 overs to reach the target. They moved to 1-62 following the early loss of Caleb Jewell (four), with Matthew Wade racing to 41.
The Redbacks had resumed on their overnight score of 4-111 and upped the ante in a session where they scored 106 runs.
South Australia’s No.3 batsman Daniel Drew fell just before the lunch interval after an aggressive 92.
Thomas Kelly (23) and Harry Nielsen (24) played valuable cameos and gave Drew sensible support.
Tigers spinner Jarrod Freeman (3-46) was the pick of the bowlers on the third morning.
The Redbacks are yet to win a Shield game this season, and to have a realistic chance of pushing for a top-two spot will need to get the outright points in this game.
Their batsmen and bowlers have dominated in the clash and have put them in a strong position to secure victory.
Earlier the Redbacks made 329 in their first innings before dismissing the Tigers for 149 in just 50.3 overs.
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