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Former India opener Kris Srikkanth has criticized England’s Bazball approach, saying that it won’t work if they fail to adapt to the conditions in India. Srikkanth, known for his fearless approach to batting, ruled out any chances of England fighting back in the series even as the touring side remained defiant after the humbling loss in the 3rd Test in Rajkot. The Bazball era dealt England their most crushing blow as they suffered a 434-run defeat in the 3rd Test.
Srikkanth said England lack the talent to challenge India in Indian conditions, pointing fingers at the inexperienced spin-bowling attack.
“I doubt the practical success of promoting Bazball and similar theories. Have these strategies proven effective, especially in the Ashes? To be honest, no tactic can succeed if the team continues to perform poorly. The hype surrounding the Bazball theory seems unwarranted, as it requires the skill to bat effectively in specific conditions. Additionally, successful bowling demands genuine talent,” he said on his YouTube show ‘Cheeky Cheeka’.
England stunned India in the first Test of the ongoing 5-match series in Hyderabad, but the tourists have lost steam, losing the second and third Tests by huge margins. The Rajkot Test defeat, by a record margin of 434 runs, doused the hype around Bazball with even former England cricketers taking a swipe at the popular approach that brought England plenty of success before they arrived in India.
“If feasible, they could take the next available flight back home. However, they are obligated to participate in the remaining two Tests,” he jokingly said when asked about England’s chances of fighting back in the series.
Kris Srikkanth added that England need to look at adapting to situations and not remain bullish about their style of play if they are to recover from the Rajkot Test hammering.
“Yes, their batting performance in the first innings was commendable. Ollie Pope delivered an exceptional innings, and I acknowledge England’s credit for that. However, I doubt the sustainability of the Bazball approach in the long term. Simply going out and attempting to hit every ball may work for players like Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, but not everyone can execute that style successfully,” he added.
With Ben Stokes remaining defiant about their chances to win the series, the two teams will meet in the 4th Test in Ranchi from Friday.
This Article Was Originally Published On crictoday.com!
