The Death of ‘Bazball’
As the final wicket of the English team fell on the last day of the third Test of the Ashes in Adelaide, cricket fans, especially in England, were confronted with an all too familiar sight: another tour of Australia without an Ashes victory. A contest famed for its history, dating back to the 19th century, carries the myth that a cricket bail was burnt to signify the “death” of English cricket after defeat. That symbolism now seems to represent the death of Bazball. England have failed to win a single Test in Australia in their last 18 attempts and have managed only drawn series at home in recent years. A revolutionary, almost avant-garde approach to batting had promised much, with victory in Australia seen as the ultimate vindication. Yet, in the scorching heat of South Australia, that promise faded away. The story began in 2022 when former New Zealand cricketer Brendon McCullum, widely known as Baz, became head coach of the England Test team. He introduced a more aggressive, at...