sport news PAUL NEWMAN: England will not be deterred from their 'Bazball' quest to ... trends now
Nothing, it seems, will deter them in their quest to revolutionise Test cricket and save the grand old form of the game from the march of the franchises.
Not the change in the weather that should, if it stays dry at Lord’s today, produce far more difficult batting conditions than those seen earlier this season when ‘Bazball’ was born and England flayed New Zealand and India to all parts.
And not a formidable looking South Africa attack that covers most seam and spin bases and should include their spearhead in Kagiso Rabada, recovered from an ankle injury, as they attempt to cement their place at the top of the World Test Championship.
England captain Ben Stokes insists they will come out all guns blazing against South Africa
England and their captain Ben Stokes, who has emerged as a leader of real style, substance and imagination this season, are not for turning from their mission and will come out all guns blazing again in what should be a mouth-watering three-Test series.
‘It doesn’t change what we’re going to do,’ said a relaxed looking Stokes as he looked out on the rare sight of rain falling at Lord’s. ‘We might still go out and whack it even if the conditions are hard.
‘That’s what I keep on saying. No matter what conditions we have, we’ve got our way of playing cricket and we’re going to stick to that. We’ll always go out with the same mindset you’ve seen over the last four games.’
Stokes says the Lions will stick with their way of playing cricket, regardless of the conditions
How welcome that is to hear after a six-week break since the last Test when the game has seemed to be moving quickly and inexorably towards a future where lucrative short-form domestic leagues are king and international cricket will struggle to retain its primacy.
And how amusing the build-up to this series has been, with South Africa getting themselves into a right pickle over England’s tactics and refusing to acknowledge a term in ‘Bazball’ that even Stokes and Brendon McCullum are not overly keen on.
Dean Elgar is the South African ‘Bazball’ denier in chief, apparently because he finds methods that have seen the conventional Test rulebook ripped up somewhat disrespectful to the traditions of the greatest format.
South Africa captain Dean Elgar has said he will stop talking about England's new approach
But even though the South African captain, like his coach Mark Boucher, attempted to make a joke of his objections - he pretended yesterday to offer a shot of tequila to the first journalist to mention ‘Bazball’ - Elgar
