India vs England: Can the hosts make 'Bazball' work against India?

The third cycle of the World Test Championship is on the verge of finding a victor as Australia and South Africa fight for the Test Mace. As has been the tradition since the inception of this setting to find the ultimate Test champions, the third edition of the WTC Final is also transpiring in England. India and New Zealand qualified for the first edition of the ICC WTC Final back in 2021. India found its way back in 2023, this time against Australia. While India is still short of the title, England, the home of all three editions so far, is yet to break into the summit clash. Now, the start of the new WTC Cycle is on the brink for the teams with the India Tour of England.

The India vs England Test series is the focal point in the current setting. The five-match series would mark the start of a new era for India in the format. The modern-day legend, Virat Kohli has walked away from red-ball cricket. Moreover, Rohit Sharma has also bid his adieu, leaving the command in the hands of a young captain. Shubman Gill has come forth to claim India's Test captaincy, awaiting the start of his tenure with the India Tour of England.

The series in England would set the stage for the new India squad to find its way without the expertise of Kohli and Rohit. Though the team has carefully picked domestic stalwarts to fill the voids left by the former skippers, it would be up to see if India could replace the brilliance as swiftly as anticipated.

How has Bazball served England so far in Test Cricket?

While India seems to be facing enhanced stakes as they arrive in England, the hosts have the same demons to face. When Ben Stokes took the ruins of the England team from the hands of Joe Root, the English had nothing to lose in the format. Despite the team's standing, the new captain-coach duo of Stokes and Brendon McCullum appeared bold. Aggressive in their stance, together Stokes and McCullum extended a new approach to tackle Test cricket. Thus, came in the 'Bazball' era. The talks of Bazball, the aggressive style of play aiming to keep attacking with the bat as well as the ball, irrespective of the situation sounded exciting.

The English team was cut one fine goal, not to draw the Test. Go down fighting or thrash the opponents, do not tone down the style of play. With the ball in hand, aim nothing below than scalping all the 20 wickets in the match. With the bat in hand, lay a dominance, charging against the bowling attack rather than playing defensive. Initially, Bazball seemed like just the approach needed to revive red-ball cricket, surviving under the shadow of the more dynamic and shorter formats.

Credit where it's due, Bazball pulled England out of the slump that the team was left in 2022. However, the approach has yet to push the team to the shore. Despite playing aggressively consistently for almost the last two cycles, England is yet to play the WTC Final. Now, as another cycle kicks off with the India vs England Test series, it remains to be seen if the hosts would trust Bazball to claim a flying start.

England has won 23 out of the 36 matches they have played since the inception of 'Bazball'. Losing 12 matches, Ben Stokes and Co. have drawn just 1 game in these three years. At home, their style of play shines brighter. England, under McCullum and Stokes, have won 15 out of 20 matches, forcing a draw in one. Their dominating record at home would inspire England to keep at it against the relatively raw India side in the upcoming series.

Can the hosts challenge India with Bazball in the five-match India vs England Test series?

Bazball is newer when compared to India's woes in England. It's been almost two decades since India has won a Test series on the English soil. The last series victory by the visitors dates back to 2007. Across these years, India played and thrived under the leadership of MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma. While the said skippers accumulated many accolades to their name, a series win in England evaded their fate. The last time India toured England, the visitors managed a draw.

The onus is now on Shubman Gill to script a turnaround in India's standing on the English soil. The ask might be higher from the young captain leading a team devoid of Virat Kohli for the first time in the foreign land. However, India can bank on the situation if the hosts remain adamant about their Bazball approach in the India vs England series.

Bazball is an approach made famous by the players, many of whom sit out of the England squad for the home series against India. The hosts have introduced a fairly inexperienced bowling lineup for the first Test of the five-match series. Mark Wood, Gus Atkinson, and Olly Stone have been sidelined with one or another injury concern. Chris Woakes would lead the pace attack with Brydon Carse behind him. Barring the duo, England is likely to rely on inexperienced picks like Sam Cook and all-rounder Jamie Overton.

The touring India might be majorly overhauled, but it still boasts the services of KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant, both of whom have a century to their name in England. Woakes is also returning from an injury, leaving an uncertain mark on the strength of England's bowling. Attacking India with Bazball with a bowling lineup that can fail to back up the style of play could sabotage England at home. While the batting order looks in form, it would be tested against the experience of Jasprit Bumrah, with India's attack further deepened by Mohammed Siraj and spinner Ravindra Jadeja.

More so, India looks ready to challenge England at their own game, prepared to tackle Bazball heads-on. Reflecting on the prospect of coming across the aggressive style of play, Jasprit Bumrah appeared excited. The lethal seamer doesn't see Bazball as a threat to his economy but an opportunity to trigger a collapse. Bumrah highlighted that the approach pushed a batter to make errors that can materialize into quick wickets for the Indian bowling attack.

"They're playing an interesting style of cricket which is an interesting one because I don't really understand it too much but as a bowling unit you know we always feel confident that when the batters are being ultra aggressive on a given day anybody could run through and you know get wickets," Bumrah said in a recent interaction.