England trying to win, not be entertainers: Steve Smith sees evolution in Bazball
Under head coach Brendon McCullum, England's aggressive and free-flowing style of play — dubbed "Bazball" — quickly became a hot topic in world cricket. The philosophy helped reinvigorate England's Test fortunes at home, but critics have questioned its long-term success, especially against top-tier sides in tough conditions.While England have impressed in home series, their performances overseas — particularly in the subcontinent — have been more inconsistent. The bigger question looming over Bazball has been its viability in major contests against strong opponents, particularly in the context of the World Test Championship (WTC).Since the WTC's inception, England have yet to reach a final. In contrast, New Zealand won the inaugural edition in 2021, while Australia secured the title in 2023. India, meanwhile, have reached the final twice — a testament to their consistency at the highest level.However, the current WTC cycle has offered renewed hope for England. Their performance in the India series — especially if it ends in a rare away series win — could serve as a major stepping stone ahead of the Ashes later this year. England have not held the Ashes since 2015, and McCullum's side will be desperate to reverse that trend.For now, Smith's comments reflect what many observers have begun to notice — that England's red-ball side may finally be striking a balance between fearless cricket and situational awareness, a combination that might just help them go the distance in the WTC and beyond.- EndsTune InMust Watch
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
11 minutes ago
- First Post
Oscar Piastri wins rain-delayed Belgian Grand Prix, extends Drivers' Championship lead over McLaren teammate Lando Norris
Oscar Piastri extended his lead in the Formula 1 2025 Drivers' Championship by 16 points after winning the Belgian Grand Prix ahead of McLaren teammate Lando Norris. read more Oscar Piastri passed McLaren teammate and title rival Lando Norris with a bold early move to win the rain-delayed Belgian Grand Prix and extend his Formula One lead to 16 points on Sunday. Charles Leclerc was a distant third for Ferrari as reigning champions McLaren celebrated their sixth one-two finish in 13 races and the third in a row The race at Spa-Francorchamps was red-flagged after an initial formation lap and delayed by an hour and 20 minutes due to the weather, with standing water and heavy spray affecting visibility. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Piastri was in no mood for hanging around when the racing got going with a rolling start after four laps behind the safety car to check conditions. The Australian slipstreamed Norris through the daunting Eau Rouge and then scythed past down the Kemmel straight into Les Combes in a move of total commitment in the treacherous conditions. 'I knew lap one would be my best chance of winning the race. I got a good exit out of Turn One, lifted as little as I dared out of Eau Rouge,' he said. 'The rest of the race we managed really well. I struggled at the end. Maybe the mediums were not the best for the last five or six laps. We had it mostly under control.' The win was his sixth of the season, making the 24-year-old the first Australian – on a list that includes past world champions Jack Brabham and Alan Jones – to triumph so many times in a single campaign. Norris had a slight battery issue, the Briton asking over the radio why he had 'no pack' before his race engineer assured him it was coming back, but he was not looking for any excuses afterwards. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 'Oscar just did a good job. Nothing more to say. Committed a bit more through Eau Rouge, and had the slipstream and got the run,' he said. 'So nothing to complain of. He did a better job in the beginning, and that was it. Nothing more I could do after that point. I would love to be up top, but Oscar deserved it today.' TWO-HORSE RACE Piastri now has 266 points to Norris' 250. Red Bull's reigning champion Max Verstappen is third but 81 points off the lead and the championship more than ever a two-horse race with Hungary up next weekend before the August break. McLaren lead the constructors' standings with 516 points to Ferrari's 248 while Mercedes fell further behind their Italian rivals on 220. Piastri pitted on lap 12 of 44 to switch from intermediates to medium tyres on a drying track and Norris followed a lap later, but opting for the hards and rejoining nine seconds behind. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The Briton might have hoped Piastri would have to pit again but the Australian made the tyres last to the chequered flag on a one-stop strategy. Piastri crossed the line 3.415 seconds clear of Norris, who had been chasing a third win in a row and managed to reduce the gap in the final laps before late mistakes left the ever-calm Australian under no pressure. Saturday sprint winner Verstappen finished fourth in his team's first grand prix since the dismissal of team boss Christian Horner, with George Russell fifth for Mercedes. Williams' Alex Albon held off Ferrari's seven-times world champion Lewis Hamilton – last year's winner with Mercedes – to secure sixth. Hamilton had been one of four drivers due to start from the pit lane but given a big boost by the switch to a rolling getaway and a fresh engine installed overnight. The Briton was also the first to make the decision to switch to slicks and pit, gaining six places. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Liam Lawson was eighth for Racing Bulls with Gabriel Bortoleto ninth for Sauber and Pierre Gasly securing the final point for Alpine.
&w=3840&q=100)
First Post
11 minutes ago
- First Post
Chloe Kelly stars again as England beat world champions Spain to defend Euro title
With Lauren James suffering an ankle injury, England were struggling, but Chloe Kelly came off the bench to replace her just before the break and it proved an inspired substitution. read more Chloe Kelly fired in the decisive spot-kick as England beat Spain 3-1 in a penalty shootout to win Euro 2025 on Sunday, successfully defending the title they won three years ago after an enthralling game that ended 1-1 after extra time. It was another spectacular turnaround from Sarina Wiegman's side, who came back from two goals down to beat Sweden in a shootout in the last eight and beat Italy in the semi-finals with another extra-time goal from Kelly. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD World and Nations League champions Spain made the breakthrough in the 25th minute as Ona Batlle crossed and caught the England defence flat-footed, allowing Mariona Caldentey to head the ball past goalkeeper Hannah Hampton. More from Football With Lauren James suffering an ankle injury, England were struggling, but Kelly came off the bench to replace her just before the break and it proved an inspired substitution. Kelly helped close down England's porous left flank and provided the cross for Alessia Russo to level in the 57th minute, the forward heading home her inch-perfect assist. Spain continued to monopolise the ball but could not find another goal before the end of normal time, and the story continued through extra time as they pressed and probed, but could not break the English defence as the game finished 1-1. The Spaniards got the shootout off to a great start when Cata Coll stopped Beth Mead's effort, but England keeper Hannah Hampton saved from Caldentey and from Aitana Bonmati to put England in the driving seat. Coll got Spain back into it with another one-handed stop to block Leah Williamson, but Spain substitute Salma Paralluelo hit her kick wide of the target. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD That set the stage for Kelly to repeat her 2022 heroics, when she scored the extra-time winner over Germany that won them the title at Wembley. "The first time was so nice, we had to do it twice." 🏆🏆 Chloe Kelly 👏👏#WEURO2025 — UEFA Women's EURO 2025 (@WEURO2025) July 27, 2025 PRANCING KELLY Kelly made her trademark prancing run-up before smashing the ball into the net and peeling away in ecstasy to celebrate with her teammates in front of the England fans. 'I'm so proud, so proud of this team, so grateful to wear this badge, and I'm so proud to be English … I was cool, I was composed and I knew I was going to hit the back of the net,' Kelly said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The final was the first time since the inaugural edition in 1984, in which England were beaten by Sweden, that the game was decided by a penalty shootout. 'Unbelievable, incredible, showing throughout this tournament we can come back when we go a goal down, and we have that grit,' an elated Hampton said. 'We've got English blood in us, so we never say die and we just keep going, and we did that today.' For Spain's Bonmati, the defeat was bitter. 'I don't have much emotion left to be honest. I have emptied myself of emotion. We are all exhausted,' she said. 'I have to say sorry, because it was my fault in the end, but I was not able to score it (the penalty). Congratulations to our opponents. In my opinion we were superior in the match, (but) on some occasions, that's not enough in football.'
News18
34 minutes ago
- News18
Bumrah playing fifth Test would be great deal for us, says Gill
Manchester, Jul 28 (PTI) India captain Shubman Gill said it would be a big deal for the team if pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah manages to play series-deciding fifth Test despite the team's original plan to restrict him to three matches. Bumrah, who suffered a stress reaction earlier in the year, was initially scheduled to feature in only three Tests on the long England tour to manage his workload and prevent further injuries. He missed the second Test at Edgbaston but played in the other three. With England leading the series 2-1 after a draw in Manchester, India must win at The Oval to level the five-match contest. 'If he feels like he's fully fit and available for us, I think it would be a great deal for us," Gill told BBC's 'Test Match Special'. 'If he's not playing, I still think we have the right kind of bowling attack," Gill added. Bumrah bowled 33 overs in the fourth Test at Old Trafford and has approximately four and a half days to recover for the final match, which begins on July 31. He has bowled 119.4 overs in five innings across three Test matches so far, which is roughly 24 overs per innings. However, given that he is India's joint highest wicket-taker in the series with 14 scalps (with Mohd Siraj), including two five-wicket hauls from three matches, the team may be tempted to bring him back for the finale. 'Even if he isn't going to play, you wouldn't tell people now, just on a purely tactical basis," Cook said. 'They made a mistake at the beginning of the series saying he could only play three, because you get thrown into a situation like now where the series is still on the line. 'If he's not fit to play, not playing is the right decision," he added. India head coach Gautam Gambhir confirmed that all fast bowlers are available for selection ahead of the Oval Test and didn't rule out Bumrah featuring in a fourth match. 'All the fast bowlers are there. There is no injury scare," Gambhir asserted on Sunday. 'We haven't had any conversation around the combination for the last Test. 'No decision has been made on whether Jasprit Bumrah will play or not. Ultimately, whoever plays, they will try and do the job for the country," he added. After the Lord's Test, India suffered a spate of setbacks, with Arshdeep Singh nursing a blow to his bowling hand, Akash Deep ruled out with a groin issue, and Mohammed Siraj battling general fatigue. All-rounder Nitesh Kumar Reddy was also ruled out of the series. As a result, India had to fly in reinforcements from home. Anshul Kamboj joined the squad and was preferred over Prasidh Krishna in the playing XI. PTI APA KHS KHS view comments First Published: July 28, 2025, 11:00 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
