The national team is to continue playing Bazball even after winning the first Test match against Sri Lanka. The former captain of England, Nasser Hussain believes that it’s all aboutsmartness in the method for enhancement.
In their first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford in Manchester, the Englishmen made a break from the attacking approach they had adopted in previous matches. Joe Root held onto the innings with a well-compiled 62 off 128 balls and took his side home to victory with five wickets left.
Sky Sports had a conversation with him regarding Brook and Smith going along way in serving England while remaining aggressive.
“England are not binning Bazball, far from it,” Hussain said. “They have got Jamie Smith and Harry Brook, who are going to be in this Test side for a long time, who will absolutely belt it for years to come. It is just about being a bit smarter when you are in those positions where it could go either way. In those key moments where we have lost another wicket, where we look to sit in and then we will go again.”
He also believes that Ben Stokes’ absence from the lineup significantly impacted Root’s cautious approach.
“Joe Root could have played that in so many different ways in the run-chase but he saw there was no [Ben] Stokes after him, he saw there was a slightly longer tail, and a pitch that was suiting Sri Lanka, so he just said ‘I have to be here at the end,'” Hussain added.
The fine display was shown by Sri Lankan players, especially in the second innings where Kamindu Mendis scored a challenging century which was supported by Dinesh Chandimal thereby giving rise to a 205-run target for England after they shared a one hundred seventeen runs partnership.
“It will be a challenging match for England as they head to Lord’s”- Naseer Hussain
Going into Lord’s with some niggles, Hussain expects it to be a tough moment for the England bowlers. Hussain also proposed Olly Stone replacing Mark Wood who is absent from the last two tests. Uncapped fast bowler Josh Hull was called up as a replacement for the pacer.
“It is going to be a tricky one for England heading to Lord’s,” Hussain said. “They have an abundance of seamers but not fit ones, because there are a lot of injuries right now. You think Stone will come in for Mark Wood, that will be a straight swap.”
“Chris Woakes is a fabulous cricketer and a magnificent cricketer at Lord’s – his record there with bat and ball is phenomenal – but, physically, he was struggling with his groin or something on day four at Old Trafford.”
The Lord’s Test will begin on August 29.
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